CIHM 
Microfiche 
Series 
(l\1onographs) 


ICMH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(monographies) 


Canadian  Inatituta  for  Historical  Microraproduetloni  /  Inttltut  canudlan  da  mlcroraprodMctlons  hiatoriquaa 


995 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notts  /  Notts  ttchmquts  et  bibliographiqiws 


The  Institutt  has  atttmpttd  to  obttin  tht  bast  original 
copy  available  for  filming.  Futures  of  this  copy  which 
may  be  biblioyaphically  unique,  which  may  alter  any 
of  the  images  in  ttw  reproduction,  or  which  may 
significantly  change  the  usual  method  of  filming,  are 
checked  below. 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


0 

□  Covers  damaged/ 
i 


D 


J  Couverture  endommagie 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculte 


□  Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

□  Coloured  maps/ 
Carles  giographiques  an  couleur 


n 
n 
n 
n 


Coloured  ink  (Ke.  other  than  blue  or  Mack)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  Meue  ou  noire) 


n 


n 


ColourwJ  plitH  and/or  iiluttrationt/ 
Planchts  tt/ou  illustrations  an  coulaur 

Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
Ralia  arac  d'autrts  documanti 

Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  raliura  sarrit  paut  causar  da  I'ombra  ou  dt  la 
distorsion  la  long  da  la  marga  intiriaura 

Blank  laavas  addad  during  rastoration  may  appaar 
within  tha  taxt.  Whananr  possibia,  thasa  hatra 
baan  omtttad  from  filming/ 
II M  paut  qua  cartainas  pagas  blanchat  aioiltias 
lors  d'una  rastauration  apparaissant  dans  la  taxta, 
mais.  lorsqua  cala  Mait  possibia.  cas  pagn  n'ont 
pas  M  f  ilm«as. 


Additional  commants:/ 
Commantairas  supplAmantairas; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  la  maillaur  a  smplaira  qu'il 
lui  a  M  possibia  da  sa  procurar.  Las  details  da  cat 
axamplaira  qui  sent  paut4tra  uniquas  du  point  da  «ua 
bibliographiqua,  qui  paurant  modiliar  una  imaga 
raproduita.  ou  qui  pau«ant  axigar  una  modification 
dans  la  mithoda  normala  da  f  ihnaga  sont  indiqufc 
ci-dassous. 

□  Colourad  pagas/ 
Pagas  da  coulaur 

□  Pagas  damagad/ 
Pagw  andommagiii 

□  Pagas  rastorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Pagas  rastaurias  at/ou  pallicultas 

0  Pagas  diseolourad.  stainad  or  foxad/ 
Pagas  dicoloraas,  tachatias  ou 


□  Pagas  datachad/ 
Pagas  d*tach«as 

0Showthrough/ 
1 


[  Transparanca 


varias/ 
inigala  dc  I'imprassion 


□  Quality  of  print  «arii 
Qualita  inigala  dc  I'ii 

□  Continuous  pagination/ 
Pagination  continue 

□  Includes  indax(as)/ 
Comprand  un  Idas)  indax 

Titia  on  haadar  takan  from:/ 
La  titra  da  I'an-tlta  pro»iant: 

□  TitIa  paga  of  issua/ 
Paga  da  titra  da  la  livraison 

□  Caption  of  issua/ 
Titra  de  depart  de  la  livraison 

□  Masthead/ 
Ginarkiue  Iperiodiquas)  de  la  livraison 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  f  ilmi  eu  taux  de  rMuction  indiqut  ci-dassous. 


lOX 

14X 

18X 

ax 

MX 

Kx 

^^^ 

^! 

1 

n 

12X 

1«X 

20X 

24  X 

2SX 

■"~* 

L_J 

Th«  copy  filmad  hara  hu  bMn  raproduead  thanks 
to  tha  ganarotity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'axamplaira  film*  fut  raprodiiit  grica  i  la 
gintrotiU  da: 

Blbliotheque  natlonale  du  Canada 


Tha  imagat  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
pouibla  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  apacificationa. 


Lat  imagai  suivantai  ont  M  raproduilat  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  eompta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  Taxacnplaira  film*,  at  an 
conformity  avac  laa  conditions  du  contrst  da 
filmaga. 


Original  eopias  in  printad  papar  cowars  ara  fllmad 
bsginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impraa- 
sion.  or  tha  back  eovor  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  eopias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion.  and  anding  on  tha  last  psga  with  a  printad 
or  illuatratad  imprassion. 


Laa  axamplalras  originaux  dont  la  eouvanura  an 
papiar  ast  imprimOa  sont  filmas  an  commancsnt 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darnitra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'Imprassion  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  iscond 
plat,  salon  la  eas.  Tous  laa  autras  axamplairas 
originaun  sont  filmis  an  commandant  par  la 
pramiAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraasion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darniAra  psga  qui  comporta  una  talia 
amprainta. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
shall  conuin  ths  symbol  — ••  Imaaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  V  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  appliaa. 

Maps,  plataa.  charts,  stc.  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratios.  Thosa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraly  includad  in  ona  sxposura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  Isft  hand  eornar.  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  framas  aa 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrama  illustrata  tha 
mathod: 


Un  daa  symbolas  suivants  spparaitra  sur  la 
darniAra  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha.  talon  la 
cas:  la  symbols  -*■  signifia  "A  SUIVRE".  la 
symbols  V  signifia  "FIN". 

Laa  cartaa.  planchas.  tsblaaux.  ate.  pauvant  atra 
filmto  t  daa  taux  da  r*duction  diff*ranis. 
Lorsqua  la  documant  ast  trop  grsnd  pour  itra 
raproduit  an  un  saul  elich*.  il  ast  film*  ^  partir 
da  I'angia  sup4riaur  gaucha.  da  gaucha  *  droita. 
at  da  haut  an  bas.  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'imagaa  nAcaaaaira.  Las  diagrammaa  suivants 
illustrant  la  mOthoda. 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

MiaoCOW  lESOtUTON   ItST  CNAIT 

'ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


^  APPLIED  IMjGFU 

S^  ■.^^■'   ^'^»'   "Oin   Streei 

r^=  "■achMter,   New  York         U609       USA 

r.a=  ^  '  6)   482  -  0300  -  Phone 

^^  (7 '6)   288 -5989 -Fax 


'  V"-  , 


•THE  SIDE 
THE  ANGELS 

•basil'king  • 


/■ 


"■> 


J!  ,  / 


V 

^ 


1  M    CLAUDE.      don't    VOU    REMEMBER    ME?" 


The  Side 
of  the  Angels 

A  Novel 

By  BASIL  KING 

AUTHOP.   OF 
"The  W«y  Home,"  Btc, 


With  Frontliplece 
By  ELIZABETH  SHIPPEN  GREEN 


A.   L.   BURT  COMPANY 
Publishers  New  York 

Publlihcd  by  Arrangement  with  Hakfer  ^  Skothk&i 


r  ^jiu-i  i 
I5S5 


259026 


Tmb  Sidb  or  m  Amgki 
Copyritht,  191S.  1016,  bjr  Harper  ft  Brotbwf 
Priiit«d  in  tb*  United  StatM  of  Amria 
PabliriHd  Febrawy,  1914 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

"My  lord,  I  am  on  a,e  side  of  the  angels."~Tnu^u. 
CHAPTER  I 

would  have  been  littw  "*  .7*°'  <»  even  in  i860,  there 

almost  as  good  as  f  ho  »*    T  ^  ""^  Thorleys,  and 

asi76o.thf^ysn2htW^2r-    <^e  ^^^  far 
the  Thorleys  hS  ™f  ^^p  ^  "^^dered  better  than 

««nparison!wSetwSS„^°T''*^«^  "^^'^^^  °f 
men-  dergymen,  and^unf,7^    f   ^^  ^*^  as  yeo- 

conscience-  sake  which  had  Trl^^I  t^^"*  °*  *""^  f« 
leys  out  of  the  Zt^XI'^^^  1^^-"°''  ^^'^  Thor- 
and  thirty  years  befOTT^  ^^^  "^  hxaOreO. 

WilloughbyT.  ^^SZlSt.  r^^'-  ^^^''• 
«««n«nity  of  interests  de vS  t  °  »1!?°"'"  '^^  ^ 

«anied.    If  from  thf^S^^tt^'^^- ^^**- 
process  Of  intermamage  the  Pays 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

were,  on  the  whole,  excluded,  the  discrimination  lay  in 
some  obscure  instinct  for  aflSnity  of  which  no  one  at  the 
time  was  able  to  forecast  the  significance. 

But  by  1910  there  was  a  difference,  the  difference 
apparent  when  out  of  the  flat  fannlands  seismic  explosion 
has  thrown  up  a  range  of  mountain  peaks.  For  the  ex- 
pansion of  the  country  whicn  the  middle  nineteenth  cen- 
tury had  wrought,  the  Thorleys,  Mastermans,  Willough- 
bys,  and  Brands  had  been  on  the  alert,  with  eyes  watchful 
and  calculations  timed.  The  Fays,  on  the  other  hand,  had 
gone  on  with  the  round  of  seed-time  and  harvest,  contented 
and  almost  somnolent,  awakening  to  find  that  the  ages 
had  been  giving  them  the  chances  that  would  never 
come  again.  It  was  across  the  wreck  of  those  chances, 
and  across  some  other  obstacles  besides,  that  Thorley 
Masterman,  for  the  first  time  since  childhood,  looked  into 
the  gray-green  eyes  of  Rosie  Fay  and  got  the  thrill  of  their 
wide-open,  earnest  beauty. 

He  was  then  not  far  from  thirty  years  of  age,  having 
studied  at  a  great  American  university,  in  Paris,  Berlin, 
and  Vienna,  and  obtained  other  sorts  of  knowledge  of 
mankind.  He  knew  Rosie  Fay,  in  this  secondary,  grown- 
up phase  of  their  acquaintance,  as  the  daughter  of  his 
first  patient,  and  he  had  obtained  his  first  patient  through 
the  kindly  intervention  of  Uncle  Sim.  From  February  to 
November,  1910,  his  "shingle"  had  hung  in  erne  of  the 
two  streets  of  the  village  without  attracting  a  patient  at 
all.  He  had  already  begun  to  fed  his  position  a  trial 
when  his  half-brother's  daily  jest  turned  it  into  a  hu- 
miliation. 

^^  "Must  be  serious  matter,  Thor,"  Claude  would  say, 
"to  be  responsible  for  so  many  valuable  lives." 
_  Mr.  Leonard  Willoughby,  his  father's  partner  in  the  old 
banking-and-broking"  house  of  Toogood  &  Masterman, 
enjoyed  the  same  sort  of  chaff.  "Looking  pale,  Thor 
Must  be  working  too  hard." 
"Never  mind,   Thor,"   Mrs.   Willoughby  would   en- 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

?^Z^."  ""^  !•«  ai  y-  shall  get  n.^b«t  then 
At  such  miimtes  her  dauehter  Lni«  <-r».M  i         -i 

Ss^Thrj^""™^  ^^-  ^  «-^  thi^ 

Nevertheless,  he  was  puzzled.  Havine  disreMT,1«i  ».,•. 
future  poMcssion  of  money  and  preSwS^ 
useful  career  with  aU  the'^th^^^he"  Sm* 
ffland.  nobody  seemed  to  want  him  iTwm  nTSaf^I 
vxUage  was  over-provided  wiS^doctorelJ^  *^* 
«^^ted  tt.t  it  wasn't-^the^'^^;^<f  ^,-« 
settled  m  his  native  place.  The  viUage  bein/^v  a 
township  with  a  scattered  population-^S  ^  t  h! 

Village  could  scarcely  be  said  to  count     No    tte  ^^t 

actSn^^T"--  M^/^^owanL  fj^th; 
lact  tnat  a  young  physician  must  wait  oatientlv  ar,,!  J;- 
jUs  position  by  degi«s,  he  had  reason  to  f^T^^^" 
He  grew  ashamed  to  pass  the  Uttle  hoa^iT^CM 
VOlage  which  he  had  fitted  up  as  an  X  H^g^w 
ashamed  to  go  out  in  his  runabout  ^ 

The  runabout  had  been  worse  than  an  extravapai,«. 

«™g  Mr.  WiUoughby  home  from  town  when  imfit  t« 

cLl  ^  ^^!^'  .^P«=l«^y  ^  Claude  were  T^ht. 
Uaude  had  envied  hm,  the  runabout  at  firet.  but  soon 
found  a  way  to  work  his  feeKng  off 

Anybody  dying,  old  chap?"  he  would  ask,  with  a 
3 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 


"Hope  you'll  get  to  him  in 


cud  of  his  handsome  lip. 
time."  ^ 

oa2  rfi^*  "J!"  5™"^*.  however,  m  the  eariy 
^^L^:"^  '"'^'^  that  the  young  d^ 

one  but  Welf  was  ^<n^tZ ^'Z't£"C 
guage  of  his  neighbore,  "a  Httle  off"    7/™=      ^"t- 

gtit^dt^^^^'ni^^^^^  -  ^5"" 
gaunt,  and  so  eager-eyed-and,  except  that  there  vras  no 
melancholy  m  his  face,  perhaps  he  did 

or.j?'*  ?  ^"V°^  y°""    ""^e  old  man's  voice  was  nasal 

and  harsh  without  being  disagreeable       ^°"^  "^ '"^ 

OTown  sensitive,  Thor  was  on  his  guard     "Not  nn« 

^  s  SiS^r  ^'  ^  '^'^^^  '^^^'^  2  -^" 

£^.3L^raSS'L^rr^[,tr2i-S 

S^arS^t^^.'"^  ^'^  '""«'  ingenuity-so  I'^^l^ 

itS'SsS."  ""^'^  '-'^  ^'^  -^«  to  «ive 
"  You'U  wonder  still  less  when  you've  seen  the  t«t,-«,f 

C7™^''*''^"y\'^^-  'Membe- Jd^.S^O- 
Theyoungmannodded.    "UsedtobeOVknSalW 
4 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

^^  i.^.  ^t^f^~-.«-«  -  between 

fi^K  you  the  chance  toS^-    ^'^^  ^^'    ^'^ 

you  could  thiTit^^.^^*'"8.«'  ^^t  he  said  if 
case^nclesim-"he^«an,'c:^^r''  "^^°^  *''•' 
can't  i„;  HcSl*  1^  i"  «-J««tn>ent?  No.  I 
«*«  won't  take  ZT^J^,  ^^  ^ood  if  I  did.  beca,U, 
Perhaps  I  cotjd  nmke  her." 

amused  chuckling^'tK vSTIw?  he  continued  his 
'^'ty  years,  a  so^etW  iZtS^u,  '^'^'^  T^  "^  his 
would  have  plea^d  FraLST^l'^^ST^^  ''^' 

once  been  the  SS^S^ofTf '  ""^^^  '°  ^^^a*  ^ad 
half-dozen  of  tl^  t^^T^^  !f  *  ^^-  All  but  a  spa«e 
houses.  «m«,gh  tht^itf  tr^^^""  *°  ^^  °^  ^oH 
of  vivid  green     Hp  w=  ^''''  ''^  "^d  see  oblonxs 

paying  hKt  S^t  to  Ws'ST"'":^''  "^*  ^''^  ^^^^ 
noti«>  that  the  gi^  who  oSiJ?I/^^°*  ««  «=^Iy  to 
almost  ignored  her         °P*°***  <*«  "^oor  was  pretty.    He 

"How  do  you  do.  Mi«  Pay?   I'm  Dr.  IT^orley  Master- 
5 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

mm  I  believe  your  mother  would  like  to  iee  me.  Mav 
I  go  to  her  at  onoe?"  ' 

^^^  T  \^  .T^  ''^'^y  "d  «t  <*•  foot  of  the 
stauB  when  she  said:  "You  can  go  right  up.  Butperhao. 
I  «.ght  to  tell  you  that  she's  St-^.'^she  W  v^ 

He  looked  at  her  inquiringly,  getting  the  fim  faint  im- 
pt««on  of  h«  beauty.    "Whafs  the^tter.  thenT 

tebon  she  added.  "Perhaps  it's  melancholy."  Another 
Mco^^passed  before  she  said.  "We've  had  a  good  deal 

pe  tone  touched  hfan.    Her  way  of  holding  her  head, 
rathw  meekly,  rather  proudly,  sufficiently  averted  to 

^Z^^u?V^'^*^'^^*°^^^^-^-  "What 
kmd  of  trouble?" 

Ttv'°n  T^  ^^\  ^"*  ^*''"  ^  y^  a»^t  it  herself. 
It  s  all  she'U  talk  about.  That's  why  we  can't  ^T^l 
thing  for  hei--and  I  don't  believe  you  can." 

"I'd  better  see." 

FoUowing  her  directions  given  from  the  foot  of  the 
f^^'J"*  enter^  a  barely  furnished  bedroom  of  which 
two  sides  iMnedmward,  to  coiwspond  to  the  mansard 
gradmgoftheroof.  One  window  looked  out  on  the  green- 
houses. anoth«r  toward  Thorley's  Pond.  Be«<teX 
IT^'  "  t?*?''' f  Pljolstered  annnchair,  sat  a  tall  woman. 
faUy  dressed  m  bUck.  with  a  patchwork  quilt  of  ^ 

S?r  ^^  ^f  ^I^-  ^"  ^^  °f  B^y  hair  sMghtly 
d^eveled  ^i  wfld  gray  eyes,  she  wa^  a  handLne 
woman  who  on  a  larger  scale  made  him  think  of  the  girl 
down-stiirs.  ' 

burf^  of  the  situation  to  be  on  himself.     "I'm  Dr. 

"If  l^'?!I7^°»^  "t-r  *^  """"^  '^'^'  ""graciously. 
^U  you  hadn  t  been  a  Masterman  I  shouldn't  have  sent 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

It^AS.So'i:^  ^  *«  "-^  *  t-o^  heart  b,  feeding 
solid  earth."    There^  «  w^i  L  2°  "  '^°^  <»"  the 

^'  rE^"^^^'--  heard  that  health  is  p«ttr 

th^s'ScTTftu  wS''  ""^«  »-«-•  ->«» 

heaJth."  "y°"^*8ot  patience  you  can  do  without 

Fay  ••f  L^S.""'"  "«*  -  '^  0^  a  doctor.  Mr.. 

•a^;;-*  Z'lz  of^;„rf,L  ;-'i  ""■  ^"-  ^ 

for  somethine  else  "  ^h'^J^M  u-  -J^  ^^"^  *hem  both 
as  she  sLT-rd  give  S  S.T''''"'^'^^y«y«' 
better  than  I«tiencr::.d^tS't£  3"  JY^ad' 
money  I  shouldn't  care  how  sick  T  Zl       iT"       ,     "^^ 

there  had  beenTbof^f^'  „"^ '^"^nbered  now  that 

yeai.yrng«S4£sSf.*'"fj^^dxJS;X°'Kl'^ 
sympathetically.      ^^       ^  <J^<ln  t  know- '  he  began. 

But  you'd  rather  people  didn't  hear  it,  wouldn't  you  ?" 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

"  I'd  rather  that  they'd  care  whether  I'm  alive  or  dead," 
•he  said,  fiercely.  "  I've  lived  all  my  life  in  this  village, 
and  my  ancestors  before  me.  Fay's  family  has  done  the 
same.  But  we're  pushed  aside  and  forgotten.  It's  as 
much  as  ever  if  some  one  will  tell  you  that  Jasper  Fay 
raises  lettuce  in  the  winter,  and  cucumbers  in  spring,  and 
f  few  flowers  all  the  year  round,  and  can't  pay  his  rent. 
I  don't  believe  you've  heard  that  much.    Hav*  you?" 

He  dodged  the  subject  by  asking  the  usual  professional 
questions  and  giving  some  elementary  professional  advice. 
"I'm  afraid,  Mrs.  Fay,  you're  taking  a  discouraged  view 
of  life,"  he  went  on,  by  way  of  doing  his  duty. 

She  sat  still  more  erect  in  her  arm-chair,  her  eyes  flash- 
ing. "If  you'd  seen  yourself  driven  to  the  wall  for  more'n 
thirty  year,  and  it  when  you  got  to  the  wall  you  were 
crushed  against  it,  and  crushed  again,  wouldn't  you  take 
a  discouraged  view  of  lite?  I've  lived  on  bread  and  water, 
or  pretty  near  it,  ever  since  I  was  married,  and  what's 
come  of  it?  We're  worse  ofiE  than  we  ever  were.  Fay's 
put  everything  he  could  scrape  together  into  this  bit  of 
land,  and  now  your  father  is  shilly-shallying  again  about 
renewing  the  lease." 

"Oh,  so  that's  it!" 

"That's  it— but  it's  only  some  of  it.  Look  out  there. 
All  Fay's  sweat  and  blood  and  all  of  mine  is  in  those 
greoihouses  and  that  ground.  It's  everything  we've  got 
to  live  on,  and  God  knows  what  kind  of  a  living  it  is. 
Your  father  has  never  given  us  more'n  a  three  years' 
lease,  and  every  three  years  he's  raised  the  rent  on  us. 
He's  had  us  in  his  power  from  the  first —  Oh,  he's  crafty, 
getting  us  to  rent  the  land  from  him  instead  of  buying  it, 
and  Fay  that  soft  that  he  believed  him  to  be  his  friend!— 
he's  had  us  in  his  power  from  the  first,  and  he's  never 
spared  us.  No  wonder  he's  rich!  And  you'i«  coming 
in  for  that  Thoriey  money,  too.  I  know  what  your  grand- 
father Thorley's  will  was.  Going  to  get  it  when  you're 
thirty.  Must  be  pretty  nigh  th't  now,  ain't  you?" 
8 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

To  humor  h«  Thor  owned  the  date  in  the  foUowing 
Pebniary  when  he  should  reach  the  age  fixed  by  hi*  gnuid- 
father  for  entenng  on  the  inheritance. 

"What -d  I  teU  you?  I  remember  you-  grandfather 
a.  plain  a.  p^ain.  Big.  hard-faced  man  h.  'a,^^* 
hteyou.  My  folks  could  remember  him -.hen  h^wH^d 
garden-truck  to  back  doors  in  the  city.    Nothing  but  a 

XT'J^h  '^-  ^"''  "'"'  ^^  "^^  o^  us-and  he  died 

r^^  w  vJ^^f  f^'  ^''^^  °°  *°  '•"^  ^'^  ««1  the  Fays 
didnt.  N«ther  did  my  folks,  the  Grimeses.  If  we'd  been 
crafty  and  hadn't  sold  till  the  city  was  ci^eping  Z^ 
chimneys  hke  the  Thorleys  and  the  BrandsTwf  should  te 

Zr^tT  *"■  *^'i*  1°^  ^**«"  ««t  °^  W"  will  good 
^  ^  ^°^  grandfather  did.  and  now  it  '11  aU  coi^e  to 
you.  Why.  there  was  a  tmie  when  the  Thorlevs  hired 
out  to  my  folks,  and  so  did  the  Willoughbys !  And  now- 1" 
She  threw  the  quilt  from  off  her  knees  and  spread  her 

hfewatohing  every  one  else  go  up  and  me  and^e  go 
dowa-and  I'm  sick  of  it.    I'm  not  sick  any  other  way-" 

^_  No  I  don't  think  you  are."  he  said,  gently. 
COM  ,~  *hat  s  bad  enough,  isn't  it?    If  I  had  a  fever  or  a 
Mid  jou  could  give  me  something  to  take  it  away.    But 
what  can  you  do  for  the  state  of  mind  I'm  in?" 

He  answered,  slowly.  "I  can't  do  much  just  yet— though 
I  can  do  a  httle-but  by  and  by.  perhaps-Jhen  I  Zw 
more  ejtactly  what  the  trouble  is— " 

T.>e^°^  .^'*  ^°'l  '*  ^^^  than  I  can  ten  you  now 
ll^T^'T"^^  ^  ^*  all  r  can  do  to  keep  fixJ  steXg 
downtoThorley^ond,  when  no  one's  looldng,  andth7ow! 
mg  myself  in.    What  do  you  think  of  that?" 

I  thmk  you  won't  do  it,"  he  smiled,  "but  I  wouldn't 
play  with  the  idea  if  I  were  you."  "»'i  woman  t 

oulli^W^*^;"  ff:  ^'^'  "^^"8  '^  ^y  the  arm  and 
EfeTJi  *l°^  ^  *=^-     "  ^^  °"t  °f  that  window." 
He  foUowed  the  pomtmg  of  her  finger  to  a  high  bluff 
2  9 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

*««*•    WelTSMreW  iS  TEL**"/      Th«ftDndc 

»"«  but-deep."    HS«L«h!i^K?^-    After  Uat  aoth- 

wJ'.rea*;ffi:;;i:SSi.^^-^^ 

•nd  what  I've  wanted  i.^^«^~*«^'t'«««»iiibowsr 
t»«Nt.  wd  be  soSg^StavJ  II::?,***  to  do  «ne. 

Med  to  hire  out  to  my  fX^H  L^^*  ''^  P~P^  "bo 
J<Hlay.  just  because  tteyWt^S^*^'^  "*"  <«« 
I  got  it.  too?  I'm  fiTK  iTTU^y'*^'* 
I-ouiaa  Thorley— your  Im  ™!!u  ?^  «°<»<*  ichooling. 
to  .d.001  togeU.er'^^^rS"^^*  ^-^^n-  wJi 
•he  died  when  you  wwTte™  S?  "^^  with  her  and 
old  Miss  Brand-iunt^n     •    t.^*  "«*'  to  school  to 

WiIloughby^dl^Xht?:S''ir K  *^r.*''  "^  ^ 
"fcetheywasinthos^lar^M:  P**"**""* 
poor.  We  was  aU  poor  tSer-ll^r  ""^^  "»  *«« 
««ea«poo.ands^^^^^^y-  And  now 
and  lower  dasses-and  ev«^7^*?*"'"PP«  »"««»« 
«ick  of  it."     ^^™"  everything  s  got  uneven— and  I'm 

sZ'tiS^f 'y^r^S*  he  ta^  to  her  with  the  in- 
attention  J^l  SiX'  tf*^  ^is  «wa«Hn  « 
famestness  was  yotS^  "  r  SinV  r"^  '^'^  that  the 
he  finished    when  hT*!.      r™*  ^  ™"t  nin  off  now  " 

"butruSd^^s^ettW  ''''  '^^''y  ««^^ 

You'U  take  a  -ble^STL^^TI  S^Jt.:^^ 

zo 


\  /* 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

fa^  ^  r'*  «^««y-t«*.  whew  h.  waTboS? 
toapw.    And  «lo  you  know  what  auwh  htai  fuiTlt? 

nSi    but  L^^^  ?  <>«•  wone  thM  that  tWenty  t^ 

^iJr.  ™  •  ™vuig  round  in  nttomobilM.  wWi«m- 

poor  bqy'i  in  Colecad."^  »»>«noouei,  w&iie  my 


CHAPTER  II 


?    I 
■I 


ill 


R«=k  'rfth  its  SrS^t^  ^^  <^  neatness  DuSc 
change.  ^  '^*  °^  '^t*  might  be  a  welcome 

"W'ff^^len^-h en  he  went  ctside.  he  gazed 
Pay-^slin:feUowS^^i°«=,^d-    He^n^em^d 
eyes.    He  had  seeTm^  ^^  •'  ^T^^  ^^  «d  starry 
«8ht«nyea«.th^ghZel^^:?"^•''^°StheS    , 
P-eenhouses  lay  on  that^i,;    *  I?  '"^''er  of  fact,  Fay's 

Pondmostontof  thewlyoaher.H'/-'^  °^  Thorley's 
had  new  roads  wormed  W.^!»,  Pedestnan.  Only  of  late 
bank  of  the  pond.^^  w'it"^.*'  "^^  ""^h^ 
try-loving  souls  who  dSr  *^  "jy  well-todo,  coii- 
a  satisfaction  to  Thor'sfoft,^^  ^^  supshine.  It  was 
only  the  best  typ,oij£u'^'^^  Masterman.  t^ 
among  these  sy^n  riaX,     ^  residence  was  goii^g  „„ 

Jor^e^rt^^^SCJersUn^  that  it  should  be  so. 
by  a  range  of  wo<Jded^  "t  wS^'^  ^"^  the  north 
hdd  out  to  the  sunsCe  Th^i^^-  ^  ^^'  8^"  cup 
therefore,  to  the  raising  of  earlv'^i^  ^^  favorable, 
ever  the  frost  was  ouf  of  S'^J^^"-*?*-"  When- 
th  igs  growing  in  straiirht  k  ^^^'^-  "Wongs  of  green 
^the  landsca^,  wSSn'^y  S  the',:^^  '^^^ 
the  township  clambered  Xt^  of  „  Jfif'  °^er  which 
Clusters  of  greenhouses  glinted 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE  ANGELS 

like  distant  sheets  of  water     nr,o  »,  j 
contest  to  the  sparli„7uue  e^'o^Aor./^*"^*"  ^- 
peroeive  that  they  were  not  ti^y  K     W^  '  ^f"^.  ^°' 
a  view,  hemmed  in  by  the  wl^^^.      •  **  ^  Pleasmg 
south,  and  a  hint  of  the  Ati^  °^  ^^  "^^  *^^^d  the 
every  reason  why  fI/s  pl^of  ^^  i  '^''  *^^  ^^ 
in  value.  '^    ^    P'°'  °^  '^n^  should  appreciate 

th2"hl'rth^S/*r.^-:  -"P-^ensible  to  Thor 
instrument  of  oppf^^"^  t^"  ^f*  and  stiU  not  be  an 
perceive  this.  It  hS't„  liJ^  '*"?°'""2  t°  him  to 
suspicions  that  had  Si^hf  Snd  ""  '^'^'^ble 
and  which  wer^  not  easy  to^s^^    "^"^  "^^  '^°»«. 

glass  roof  he  could  2L^?r^'^-l°''T-  ^'^^^  the 
the  crimson  or  white  rf  ^1?  ^^^  °^  poinsettias  and 
other  two  house:Xltl'^t^^ri"L^^^'°°-  The 
green,  representing  lettuce  T^U  I^^^^^^  °^  tender 
Abow-legged  ItiaL  wa?  1051%^*,^^°'  *^^  '^^"P- 
be«i  opened  for  the  milder  paSh^^^^^''*'  ^^^  had 
replaced  the  covers  on  hoE  llf  ^V  !"°*''  ^'^^ 
violets.  From  the  high  ft^^  v^""' '^^^^  ~«t^ed 
yeUow-br<,wn  smoke  Se^Elv'^r  ^-  P^"««  °^ 

?dorof°S^eSS^^rhir.'^  ''^  --*■  -- 
mg.  Pausing  in  her  woriTthl  „" f  ,^?'"°«  '"'^  '''°s«>m- 
fength  of  thf  greeS^o^^ks  a  h[L7^t^°^  '^'  ^■ 
He  went  toward  her  Se^  wt,°'  ^f  'V'"  *°  ^<^^^<*- 
famations,  on  which  thIwovS^'^^°fry-g^een 

^ng  their  sheaths  to  Z'lav^heT^^''-'',"'^  ^^'^ 
Half  covered  up  by  a  coar^infJ.  ^^-P'nk  within. 
«t  a  high  table,  like  a^teni?'  f  "'^°'""'  '^^  ^'ood 
poinsettias.  counter,  agamst  a  background  of 

hi;.'Sti°£Kv^t^^£  ?« -p^-d  to 

B    ^  "^j^^'t^  directions  concerning 


THE   SIDE   OF  THir    axt^t, 
^  ^   wr    iHE  ANGELS 

"ise'STatiJ'.'^'*  •*  •'^  if  we  didn't  by  to 

Tnor,  whose  ear  xnw  «».»■<.• 
T*'  pleasant  toTsCtrTdl^J^^^i*^*  "«*  voice 
an'Ple,  unaflFected  refin™     h  ?**^  ""^^^  by  a 
was  uitei^ted  in  h^^%,  f^  "f  ««fed  because  he 
tion  in  watching  her  ^L  ^J°^^  ?  ^^  °f  fasdna! 
&om  one  end  of  th^t^ble  tW  •"  °^  "^  Ao^t 
farth  from  the  heap  S  Se^I"  !5  '^'^'^  «  two  of 
ooked  like  a  clust^  of  %ow^'^  ^"^  «  "^t  that 
then  a  little  more  earth  iffi^ih^TT*^!^  <^<«^ 
«^  flower-pot  as  o^'tSt^on  thtfl*^^.*°  P'^ 
There  was  something  rhythn^Tnu      ^""^ '^^'^d  her. 
«fetail  took  the  same  aSZl  n^  h«.  movements.    Each 
»^ht  have  bete  worlS^mi*^^  fj*  *^«-    She 
f^^y  the  same  g^^^^Tl^  ?*  '^*  '^d  »ade 
6«m  the  line  in  whidi  ^yZvtS^  ^^^'^^  ^«  took 
P«ht  hand  described  l^^l^^  ^gether.    Her 
«npa^«t  petulant  hanSf^^  "^«  '^t^'  every 

Of  sa^  S4*  *^  «>-?"  he  asked,  for  the  sake 

5»^^?^^d:r^to;°v^  i^*^- ««  -'t 

tas  mmd  both  ways  at  on^  n^'  '^^'  ^e  makes  up 
a  good  thing  out  of  i^ffloJSl.e'f.^\'^'«  °^ 
And  because  othe«Xa  bSr  ^-1=^"'^  ''^'"  ^^  ^'^t- 
thinks  he'll  do  that  "         ^  business  m  garden-stuff,  he 

''I^'not'^?*r"J-°'^Is.  Isee." 
^sdainfuUy  tos^fh^  Str""^*/'  ^«  ^^  «>. 
you;re  a  big  martet^LS  a^^^.?*^**  P°*'  """less 
flonst  unless  you're  a  l^l^U.'^'l'*  "  »o  use  being  a 
^g  nowadays  to  m^e  it^^*'  yS^T'^^  ''*'  *°  ''e 
father  IS  that  he  does  so  ^  t^  **  *^"e  with 
l»«. '  she  analvzed^nf?  "^^  thmgs  small.    He  sees 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 
-^'gTen^^*  ^  ^'  -^^^  his  fa««  on 

nSrSS^-^  l^^  t?  W  lettuce  and 
whereas  flowed  were  a  iSS^'^^*«^^  happened, 
scarce  they  didn't  buy  the^f  i*^^''".'"°°«y  ^ 
and  funerals  and  CW^;    "i'JT^^not  for  weddings 
buythemataT  SlTth^vi^*^  '""'y  ^°^^t 
and  diffi-Jt.    You  S<^t  tZ  T^  ^^^^^  *»  'aise, 
into  the  ground     E^aL°l^''-'^''"^  ^"^"'^  ^d 
gium;  every  Hly-b.Sb^,JJ^ -Po^ed  f«>«n  Bel- 
were  grown  from  slips  but  if  hf '^i  T'  ^^'^  ^^aj^tions 
they  gavel    Those  a?'wEhhel?^T  ^^"^  *^"  *^°"ble 
had  the  innocent  air  of  sSn^anT^I^"^'  f^  ^^'^^ 
accord,  had  been  throJgS^tt^iT"!  °l'^^  °^ 
esses  since  the  slips  werltaLiI^*,?*"  four  tedious  proc- 
First  they  had  b^  pW^^  f  ^e  preceding  February, 
then  tra^erre^r  t S  Sw  tj5'  "?'  *°  ^^^ 
bedded  out  in  the  ^d;n    S  w7°*jf*"  ^^^-  *«» 
house.    If  he  would^t^ioSd^^  ^^^'  '"*°  t'"' 
aU  that,  to  say  nothiit  n?T   •     ^  ^*^  involv.-  ?  in 
watering,  and  4pS'ehi^;rr^*  T^«  and 
by  night  and  by  day-weU  hTr^.M    P'fP^^^^P^tote 

He  did  see  for  W^tf     hJ^a  "^  ^^  ''^"^• 
he  was  noting  theSL  ?Z  ^  ""  ^^^^y-  because 
of  the  pecZr  ^^^S^^C^^T"^  *^^  ''^- 
green-    It  was  still  absenSvTw  f^]^  7^'  "^  <^aUed 
have  to  work  pretty  h^^  *^*  ^  ^^-  "And  you 

She  shrugged  her  shoulders.    "Oh   T  ^r^'^     ■  ^   . 
Anything  to  live."  '  ^  °°n  t  aimd  that. 

"What  are  you  doing  there?" 

reS  "0h,Th^Tr^^.°°f  ^...'>*  -*-  «  she 
begin  on  theni  no^'  ^  *^  ^^*«-  l^*--    We  have  to 
"And  do  yon  do  them  aU?" 


I  i' 


in  ';! 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 


"I  don't  blame  them. 


defiant  if  he  hadn't  found  it  frank. 
Half  the  time  they're  not  paid  " 

Would  you  hke  doing  what  isn't  of  any  use'-what 
wiU  never  be  of  any  use?    Would  voi.  n^  t^T'    i 
nmmng  as  hard  as  ^ou  can.T^t^^S  S       tfe^T 
?W^1,,*°  ?^*^u"-     "^  *°^'J'>'t  1*6  it  for  long^- 

gestS  a£t?  '^^S'  '•''''  ^''^  ^  *°"gh  he  hfd  sug- 
gested  a  form  of  consolation.     "  It  won't  be  fnr  i«„„     t* 

"Shf  °^!ir"''^'*  ^^""^  ^^  *°°  ""=h  alone."  he  advised 
^He's  off  somewhere  trying  to  engage  a  night  fii^ 
••iSiSi^^KSelh^^SrsSe'Sd 

Td^^Tit-^"^^-  AndifweSrrx' 

likf  ^?thf,'°  "u''  ""dtf^riously.  "The  thing  she'd 
happeS"  Sl^.r  •''°''^  ^°  ^^'  ^y  e°^  when  it 
S  "It'sV^^  i"?  ^  ^'^'^  ^'h  impetuous  vehe- 
Stti?co«,iof    f    ""^  ^t"  °"*  °^  3"^1-    He  WiU  be  out 

16 


would] 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

««  Matt  hanging  about  the  house-for  he'U  never  get 
^He  can  help  your  father.    He  can  be  the  night  &«- 

n^^HetLXXr.'SnS'^  the^talistlc  .ove. 
a  night  fireman  by  thfttC'^  Father  won't  need 

bettS.iL^i:n't"£U''  T^'  T^  •"°*''-  --t 
Duck  Rock,  now!,^3hS?..^°''^  *"  "^"^  """^  ^ 

Idon't  say  allowed.    But  if  she  did-" 

Well,  what  then'" 

she  asked,  as  if  reaching  a  condS     "K   ^*  ""'^^" 
of  It,  it  would  be  a  gain  aU^T  "  ''''  ''^  °"* 

wa^Sd^^B'^^t^--^  "^^V^  ^^  '^^'  he 
m^tbesomething^sS'e'J"""''"-''^-'^-    1^- 

to  v^  throwSg  Sa  c^Si^f '7'^^,^'^"  ^P"'^^-  ^^^d 

mi-ion.  "w'Jz:r:'f^:r^:^^.^'^^^^- 

^^He_  spoke  triumphantly.     "Ah,  there  is  one  thing, 
;;  Yes  but  it  may  not  happen." 

a  .?S^'r'^"»"r  "^^  '-  ''And  ™, 
17 


$ 


!  il 


II  i 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

"  We  should  have  to,  because  "—the  svmf  fi^-f  ^  ^  v    ■ 

He  laughed  as  he  held  out  his  hand  to  L  g^lbv 
aS^Le"^.  *«•--•    And  in  any  case  it  wc^'t"^.'^ 

o^^'2:3  ^t^"  his  hand  on  the  ground  that  her 

tMng  ev»  happenI*i^n^to'5^^  -J  f  ^| 
you  so.    I  can't  play  fair;  but  I'lJ  S^  to  m  I  aS" 


Ilk 


CHAPTER  III 

'THOR  was  deaf  to  these  enigmatic  words  a  the  excite- 
1   ment  of  perceiving  that  the  girl  had  beauty.     The 
discovery  gave  him  a  new  sort  of  pleasure  as  he  turned  his 
runabout  toward  the  town.    Beauty  had  not  hithert^ 
been  a  condition  to  which  he  attached  great  val  le     If 
anything,  he  had  held  it  in  some  scorn     Now,  for  the 
first  time  m  his  emotional  life,  he  was  stirred  by  a  rirl's 
iMre  prettmess-a  quite  unusual  prettiness,  it  had  to  be 
admitted;    a  shghtly  haggard  prettiness,  perhaps;    a 
prrttmess  a  httle  worn  by  work,  a  K.tle  coai^i^M  bf^d 
and  weather;   a  prettiness  too  desperate  for  you4  and 
tw  tragic  for  coquetry,  but  for  those  very  reasons  doubt- 
^aU  the  more  haunting.    He  was  obUged  to  remind 
himself  that  it  was  nothing  to  him,  since  he  had  never 
swerved  from  the  intention  to  marry  Lois  Willoughby 
as  soon  as  he  had  made  a  start  in  practice  and  come  into 
the  money  he  was  to  get  at  thirty;  but  he  could  see  it  was 
the  sort  of  thmg  by  which  other  men  might  be  aflfected 
andcame  to  a  mental  standstill  ther». 

Driving  on  into  the  city,  he  went  straight  to  his  father's 
office  m  C«mnonwealth  Row.    It  was  ateady  after  four 

0  dock,  and  except  for  two  young  men  sorting  checks  and 
putting  away  ledgers,  the  cagehke  divisions  of  the  banking 
departaient  were  empty.    One  of  the  men  was  whistling; 

iw    ^?f  '^^  ^  "  '°"'^'  eay  voice,  "Say,  Cheever 
what  about  to-mght?"-dgns  that  the  enforced  deconmi 

01  tne  day  was  past. 

Claude  was  in  the  outer  office  reserved  for  customers. 
He  wore  his  overcoat,  hat,  and  gloves.    A  stick  hung  over 
19 


^'i  '     I 


II  i 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

fingets.  P*  fluttered  between  his  gloved 

Though  his  back  was  toward  tl,»  a .. 

has  half-brother's  st^y^uJ^^T^'  ^  ^cognized 
imtation  which  Thc^s  ^,2e^    f^*"^  °^  «"^y  a^d 
He  was  not  without  fraSSrl'''*'^'  "'^^  '°  ^■ 
Thor  was  away;   wh^  K.1^™'  "^^^^y  ^hen 
for  Claude  not  to  t^t  the^ni     """^  '  ^'^  ^^''"^t 
caUeditsuperiority^w2toif>l.?'^°^'y-    Claude 
m^t  no  more  th^  a  c^Wi*  ^  '^  '^"^-  t»><««h  he 
self  would  have  enjoyed     ^''T  °i  ^^'^^'^^  he  him- 
njoney.  his  good  sjirite   „oS  ST*  ^°i'^  Prospective 
Claude  had  not  goS  SaUrlwh'^'''  ^1  8°°^  health, 
ment,  his  lock  ef  good  sS      f^  ^."^-  ^  Ws  judg- 
had  Claude  any  L^SSdSifi'^^T'^-    ^rith^ 
a/ear  he  earned  in  his  faS  offil^^l?"  '""'^  doUa« 
?f  saying  to  himself,  and  iTc^n^''*-    "^''^  ^  «>e  haLit 
it  was  "damned  ha;dTck "Tw  r^,.*° ?^'  ^''■'°<^«'  »»>«' 
to  Hve  on  a  pittance  itha^whf,"^^  ^  «»"P^"«d 
months,  would  come  into  Tg^^ZV"^'  '^'^^  *  fe'' 
It  was  some  consolation  ^1^^^  thousand  a  year. 
«f  ed  "an  ugly  beast "^ow^.Zt'''''-'^^""'^ 
along,  narrow  head  thalCk^  ^«S?",J!!:^'  "^"^ 
The  eyes  were  not  bad-  that  h,^*    "  had  been  sat  on. 
were  as  friendly  as  a  weln^l?^     .^."^  admitted;   they 
was  so  big  and  ag^v??C"^  ^^'"J   ^'  *he  mouth 
was  tryini  to  giow^In't^lr'"-  ^^^  "^^^^  Thor 
the  nose  and  d^  ^y  "^S-L^^  ^'*^^-    As  for 
account-^  if  the;  had  be^  Zi:^^''^*  to  Claude's 
to  a  system  of  g^ot^ue^o^ft      "Z^J  ^^  ^»'i«oted 
Claude  could  the  morSlv^fu"  ^'^  hardening, 
ooks  seeing  that  he  WrSff  w^L!?f  \°^  "^  ^^t^er^ 
traits  as  regular  as  if  th^h^t^**"^  handsome,  with 
so  exact  that  it  was  fr^uentiv  ^  T""*^'  ^^  *  P^file 
wia-iows,  to  the  envyTgentleme'Hf  ""  ^^^.^P^' 

^  -  tried  to  z^jr^rz^^  :z'a'Z 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

had  been  unsuccessful  and  had  now  disappeared  Claude 
wouldn't  disfigure  himself  by  a  hair.  He  was  as  clean- 
shaven as  a  marble  ApoUo.  and  not  less  neatly  limbed 

"Gone."  Claude  raised  his  eyes  just  long  enough'to 
utter  the  word.  ' 

Thor  came  to  an  abrupt  stop.     "Club'" 
"Suppose  so."    He  added,  without  raising  his  head. 
Wish  to  God  the  drunken  sot  would  stay  there  "    He 
?"'J"n^'  7^^  **""  apparenUy  reading  the  tape  in  his 
hand,  "Fatliar  wishes  it.  too."  ^  t^         a 

Thor  was  not  altogether  taken  by  surprise.  Ever  since 
his  return  from  Europe,  a  year  earlier,  he  had  wondered 
how  his  fathers  patience  could  hold  out.  He  took  it 
that  thoe  was  a  reason  for  it,  a  reason  he  at  once  expressed 
to  Claude: 

"Father  can't  wish  it.    He  can't  afford  to." 
Claude   Ufted   his    handsome,    rather   insolent    face 
Why  not?" 

"For  the  simple  reason  that  he's  got  his  money  " 
'Much  you  know  about  it.    Len  Willoughby  hasn't 

enough  money  left  in  Toogood  &  Masterman's  to  take  him 

on  a  tnp  to  Europe." 
Thor  backed  toward  the  receiving-teUer's  wicket,  where 

he  rested  the  tips  of  his  elbows  on  the  counter.     He  was 

visibly  perturbed.     "What's  become  of  it,  then?" 

Don't   ask   me.     All  I  know  is   what   I'm   telline 

you."  * 

"Did  father  say  so  himself?" 

"Not  in  so  many  words.    But  I  know  it."    He  tossed 
the  tape  from  him  and  began  to  smooth  his  gloves, 
i'ather  means  to  ship  him." 
j|Shiphim?    He  can't  do  that." 
"Can't?    I  should  like  to  know  why  not  " 
;|  Because  he  can't.    That's  why.    Because  he  has— " 
V^es?    Cough  it  up.    Speak  as  if  you  had  something 
up  your  sleeve." 

Thor  reflected  as  to  the  wisdom  of  saying  more.    "Well, 

31 


I 


I  :     i! 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

I  have, "  he  admitted.    "  It'«  anm^k-     t 

tte  time  we  were  wi.    Yw^*^  ^     '^'^  '^ 

But  /  noticed-«nd  I  hmWt^^  ^°^  *°  "°««- 

to  Hve  on."  iSe  dLTe? ^^^ ^^ -5", *"-  «"°"«h 
«««»  than  that  of  ^c^TT,  ^."^  ^°^  °'>  °^» 
"Father  persuaded  \?r  S^hb^^''';\,«^^'P«*'^°n- 
by.  money  into  the  burinwTwh^^^  ^j  ^"'  ^"'°"8''- 
"Ah.  ahuclfsl"  o.-.r^^  .    ""  ''®  **» '  want  to." 

Paris,  that  fim  time  tl^took  uHb^*  "V'""'  ^ 
only  mne  and  I  was  twelve  The^  th!^'  r  ^°",''«« 
>ng  round  one  evening  in  that  lit^  *?„r-  ^  '^  •«»"«- 
the  rue  de  Ri,voli-the  SX  '  '''  '^^^  »*  « 
WiIloughbyrhadb^„h^'^iJ"'p'^„^'-^^^  The 
and  father  got  them  to  «L.  I  ."  **  ■«  years, 

mother  to  t4  it  u^  h  ^wT^'  J  ^eani  him  ask 
she  didn't  want  to  Tut  faS'.^  r'^'^''^"  ^°*''«  ^^ 
agreed  to  try.  She  s^  tSf t?,fp  '^f  ^er.  and  she 
because  Len  had  «Sy  ^^t    ♦T^  '"'«'"**  ^  "^8 

-ts^of  Sin^^.  T'^'LZ^^^''  '^^  ^ 

to  get  into  the  consular  smri^  tJld  thf T^l^JT"**''  ^^'^ 
It  wasn't  his  work  tb^^^^^^V^ '?°'"  ^^'^^-      1 
when  the  TooponH  «.♦.*-  "io-  was  atter.    It  was  just 

«oney.andSirLS1ohaT^°''>^f;T«^<^» 
SupS;  r  mtttlerad  i'tw^  t^^  T *>  *'^"«- 
dxakes  of  U  as  S  «  hJ^^aX."?^"^.  ''"'=^  »"' 
tbegr^t  hanker ^.f^^^:,---^^^^^^^ 


IliL- 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

el  a  fortune  that  he  hadn't  had  a  Kat  cm  the  Stock  Ex- 
change  yean  before." 

Claude  miffed  again.  "You'd  better  carry  your  load 
to  father  hiniself."  ' 

•"•^  T^l^  ^  '^^^  ^•"  ^^°^  Claude  had  found  a 
rejoinder,  Thor  w.nt  on,  changing  the  subject  abrupUy 
«o  as  not  to  be  led  into  being  indiscreet,  "Say,  Claude  do 
you  remember  Pay,  the  gardener?" 

Claude  was  stiU  smoothing  liis  gloves,  but  he  stopped, 
TOth  the  thumb  and  fingers  of  his  right  hand  grasping  the 
middle  finger  of  the  left.  More  than  ever  his  features 
suggested  a  marble  stoniness.    "No." 

"Oh.  but  you  must.  Used  to  be  Grandpa  Thorley's 
gardenw.  Has  the  greenhouses  on  father's  land  north  of 
tne  pond. 

^laude  recovered  himself  slightly.    "  WeU,  what  about 

"  Been  to  see  his  wife.  PaUent  of  Uncle  Sim's.  Turned 
her  on  to  me.    They're  having  the  deuce  of  a  time." 

Claude  recovered  himself  still  more.    He  looked  at  his 
broAar  cunonsly.    "  Well,  what's  it  got  to  do  with  me?" 
Nothing  directly." 
;|WeU.  then-indirectly?"  Claude  asked,  defiantly. 
Only  this,  that  it  has  to  do  with  both  of  us,  since  it 
concerns  father." 

Claude  was  by  this  time  master  of  himself.  "Look  here, 
Thor.  Are  you  getting  a  bee  in  your  bonnet  about  father?" 
Good  Lord!  no.  But  father's  immersed  in  business. 
He  can  t  be  expected  to  know  how  all  the  details  of  his 
policy  work  out.  He's  not  young  any  longer,  and  he 
isatm  touch  with  modem  social  and  economic  ideas." 

^  Oh,  stow  the  modem  social  and  economic  ideas,  and 
let  s  get  to  business.  What's  up  with  this  family— of— 
of—    What-d'you-call-'ems?" 

With  his  feet  planted  firmly  apart.  Claude  swung  his 
stack  ainly  back  -id  forth  across  the  front  of  his  pemn, 
though  he  hstenwd  with  apparent  attention. 
»3 


'■vrjL''"^  OF  THE  ANGELS 

whenJhetalJ^  2^!^  •  •?5';t«^  '•«."  ha  explained, 

.'•And  what  Jfd  LTe^  J^^f.^eard  father  mention  it."' 

Poor  old  feUow-s  a  dSJrLt^'"^'*^ ^  »  ^'"^^'^  •*  "S 
nutshell.  Never  <Jl^ J3e  a  Uv,?^' V««  it  i,  in  i 
member  him?"     "^'^  "^e  a  hvmg.    Never  wiU.    R*. 

■'wySien'irs''**".^^^<»-y«««" 

old   chap  «   e^^t::r'Sar'"""'^'"'-<'-    Nice 
Gentle  as  a  sheep-^„d  „«  r^l  ™Pf«ct'o^V    d«ai,;,. 

b>g.  expensive  pKiT  a^t^e^T^'^M^ '^'^«  «^t 

than  you  thought.    Y^lS^t  T^^T."".?^  ^^x^t  it 

Again  Claude  ca.uz,hTi.-      Z    '  "'^^  >t." 
•"l^tly.     "OrnM^^'^^^Vhiftfaghisposit.^ 

say.    When  you  s^e^f  ■.  at  fiL''?.^'  ^  ^^  ''^^^^  f^** 
memory."  **"*  °'  "  at  first  the  name  slipped  my 

iaf'^d^^lto^f^^^th^ne.    "^e  son.  in 
^t  Claude  was  again  on  his  guard.    "Oh.  so  there's  a 

Son  about  your  age.    Matt »,;» 
must  recall  him.    Us^  to  r^nu        °*?^  "*•    Surely  you 
let  us  do  it."  ^'"P''^^  pease  with  us  when  Fay™ 

Claude  shook  his  head 


1  silently. 


34 


I 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

"And  there's  •  gjri." 

CUude's  rtick  hung  limply  before  him.  Hi.  face  and 
figw^resumed  their  stony  inanobiUty.    "Oh.  ii  there? 

"No;  pretty.  Very  pretty.  Very  unusuaUy  nrettv 
Come  to  tUnk  of  it.  I  shouldn't  mtad  say^  T^^ 
w|U  say  Ul  She's  the  prettiest  girl  I've  iver  seeii." 
The  eyes  of  the  two  brothers  met.     "Bar  none  " 

The  smile  w  Claude's  lips  might  have  passed  for  an 
expression  of  brotherly  chaff.    "Go  it,  old  dhap!    Seem 

■'Oh,  it  isn't  that.  Nothing  of  the  sort  at  aU.  I  speak 
of  her  only  because  I'm  sorry  for  her.  Brunt  of  whde 
thing  comes  on  her. 

•'T?''  "1^'  '^°  ^°"  '"■°POS«  that  we  should  do?" 
...   t.^'^*"  '  K°' «s  far  as  proposing.    Haven't  thought 
the  thing  out  at  aU.    But  I  think  we  ought  to  do  Ze- 
tning — you  and  I. ' 

"We  Mn't  do  anything  without  father-and  father 

^^\^\^?^^  ^°°?-  Fay '"  l«ve  to  go.  Good 
tlung  too;  that  s  what  I  say.  Get  'em  all  on  a  basis  on 
which  they  can  manage.  Fay  '11  find  a  job  with  one  of  the 
other  growers—" 

"Yes;  but  what's  to  become  of  the  girP" 

Claude  stared  with  a  kind  of  bravado.  "How  the 
devtl  do  I  faiow?  She'U  do  the  best  she  can.  I  supp,^ 
Go  into  a  shop.    Lots  of  girls  go  into  shops." 

Thor  studied  his  brother  with  mild  curiosity.  "  You're 
a  queer  feUow,  Claude.  A  minute  ago  you  couldn't  re- 
member Fays  name;  and  now  you've  got  his  whole 
busmess  at  your  fingers' ends." 

But  Claude  repeated  his  explanation.  "Got  father's 
l^Tw^  ""y. fingers'  ends,  if  that's  what  you  mean. 
In  su<^  big  affairs  chap  hke  Fay  only  a  detail.  Couldn't 
rewll  hun  at  first,  but  once  I'd  caught  on  to  him-" 

by  movmg  away  toward  the  inner  office,  where  Cheever 
was  still  at  work.  Claude  intimated  that,  as  far  as  he  was 

3  as 


THE   SIDE   OF   Thp    axt^^ 

^i*    IHE  ANGELS 

^^^V^n^rS£i°^^^^^'^  He 
ffnm-fool  brother  of  X^^S^T  ?-■  ^^  '«■  that 
qu.ck.    Awfully  sonr£^V^'4:^.°"'--'^*," 


11  I 


'I'M 

m 


m 


1 

I 


CHAPTER  IV 
that  had  contained  a  cocktail  ^vi-y  g.ass 

friendly  covers  of  Vmustration  and  the  IrT**^     h! 

was  safe.    It  was  ndiculous  that  a  man  of  his  JrSl,^A 

n»  worid  dKi  not  cease  to  be  mean  and  spiteful 
*7 


m 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

Wl  after  he  had  had  his  cocktail     u 
change  that  took  place  tW-To.  I'  was  wonderful  th 
sweet,  slow,  cheering  iim^^^f''''"^^'  ^^  "^^ 
fU'-ging,  a  glowing.  ?„Sli^'r1r^«f-    It  was  > 
justment  of  the  eyt  of  The  J"  r/' '^^  '"'^  the  i^ad 
as  generous,  kindly.     It  wlf^.«  •  "^"^^  *^«  worlc 

hhnself.  with  the  happ7^nS°T"^f""~«^«>dkind]j 

tobegotoutofh-fett^^heC-  ™°'^  '^"^^ 

StiU.  it  was  sometW  to  h     ^^f'!  w™ng  from  it. 

couldn't  be  that     Se  Mtt'e™    ''r^'    ^^^°"e 
sessed  a  quirk  eve  «4,->„\      ■     ?"^  ^^'^  certainly^jos- 

as  the  mal  who^c^ul'^'pSi^S^ofT  ^".^ °"^K 
man  on  its  feet.  Three  hur,H^/J^°°'^*^  Caster- 
Bessie's  money  had  gone  into  tWK°"'^^  ^°^'  °f 
jn  time  to  profit  by'rpanTc  of  ,«  """T  ™  '«9.,  just 
had  bought !-gilt-ed«d  ffn^l  ^  ^'^'  ^'J-  how  they 
how  the^  haTtKtw  yis  S*  *°  nothing.-a:^ 
how  much  money  they  mTde     H.  ^"  ""^^  ^new 

either.  There  were  v^I^  "e  supposed  Archie  didn't 
heen  like  a  wheTfiJ^S^VtW^'M/^^''^^^ '^ad 

and  a  hundredfold  for  e^e^s^^h;^^^"^'^  ^^  ^'yf°'<J 
never  attempted  to  keep  7tKn  Iw'^  ""^^  ^e  had 
sufficient  to  know  thZth^l°^J^^^  '^^  ha;  it  was 
out.    Besides,  it  had  bee^r     ^''^^^  P'^^'^  ^-^  take 

first  that  Archie  was  toSthrdr^Hf'"*^^^  fr°«  the 
because  it  left  him  fre^f^fo^l"^-  f^  hked  this, 
wmters  in  Egypt  or  aT^sSch  "  ""  ^""^  ^^ 

AndVT^J-?--^t^ded  toward  somnolence, 
sufficiently  awake  to  put  SwJ  hanrf  ""■  "^  ^^P* 
and  seize  the  tumbler  hI  ,^^  ^"^  *™«  to  time 
another  glass.  If^brother^,  k  "^  ^^^"  ^^'^  himself 
to  say.  "HeUo.  I^n  i"o?^^^^^"^.f,'"'"ed  near  enough 
^Pond  with  a  5S;  "HeUo  Tlr'"°"??Sy'"  ^^  ««lcl 
But  he  spoke  as  ou  of  a  de^tl  h  °^',  Hello.  Jones!" 
that  weariness  at  beinl  c^?£,  k    .*  ^^^^  "^^  ««"=  of 


THE    SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

It  was  delicious  to  sink  away  from  the  prosaic  and  the  bore- 
some,  to  be  so  fuUy  awake  that  he  could  follow  the  move- 
ment in  the  street  and  the  hopping  of  the  sparrows  in  the 
trees,  and  yet  be,  as  it  were,  removed,  enchanted,  seeing 
and  hearing  and  thinking  and  even  drinking  through  the 
mediimi  of  a  soothing,  slumbrous  spell. 

It  could  hardly  ever  be  said  that  he  went  '^jyond  this 
point.  Though  there  were  occasions  on  which  he  mis- 
calculated his  effects,  they  could  generally  be  explained 
as  accidental.  Above  all,  they  didn't  rise  from  an  appe- 
tite for  drink.  The  phrase  was  one  he  was  fond  of;  he 
often  used  it  in  condemning  a  vice  of  which  he  disapproved. 
He  used  it  on  this  particular  afternoon,  when  Thor 
Masterman,  who  had  come  to  drive  him  homeward  in  his 
runabout,  was  sitting  in  the  opposite  arm-chair,  waiting 
to  make  the  start. 

"There's  one  thing  about  me,  Thor— never  had  an 
appetite  for  drink.  Not  to  say  drink.  Thing  I  despise. 
Your  father's  all  wrong  about  me.  Don't  know  what's 
got  into  him.  Thinks  I  take  too  much.  Rot!  That's 
what  it  i.s— bally  rot!  You  know  that,  Thor,  don't  you? 
Appetite  for  drink  something  I  despise." 
^^  Thor  considered  the  moment  one  to  be  made  use  of. 
"Has  father  been  saying  anything  about  it?" 

"No;  but  he  looks  it.  Suppose  I  don't  know  what  he 
means?  Sees  double,  your  father  does.  Anybody'd 
think,  from  the  way  he  treats  me,  that  I  was  a  disgrace 
to  the  firm.  I'd  like  to  know  what  that  firm  'd  be  without 
me." 

Thor  tried  to  frame  his  next  question  discreetly.  "I 
hope  there's  been  no  suggestion  of  the  firm's  doing  without 
you,  Mr.  Willoughby?" 

To  this  Len  gave  but  an  indirect  reply.  "There'll  be 
one  soon,  if  your  father  doesn't  mind  himself.  I'll  retire 
—and  take  my  money  out.    Where'U  he  be  then?" 

Thor  felt  his  way.  "You've  taken  out  a  good  deal 
already,  haven't  you?" 

as 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 


Yet  can  bet 


I  -^Vt^^^Zf^^t'^  *^.r .  of  course. 
Which  a:,  pretty  S^^^1j^,i_--al  expenses 

bety^LKrthaT"'^"^^'^*"--^"^-    toucan 

b  J;w^CS^?^ir^;lr"^:,The  H^  head  of 

swayed  with  a  siow^ov^S^t^  l^."?^^"'^^^''' 
was  obvious  that  the  tS«  anf.^*^"^  •"  *  ^^^-  ^^ 
Thor  had  been  le^^gZ^re^t^t'Tf^  "^  "^'^^ 
were  useless  even  who,  a  J^^J,  ,  '^^  "^y-  They 
of  the  ruaaboiat  and  tTe  keeSS  V  "k"?'  T^^^''* 
approached  the  viUage  ro^d  Z  w  ^^^  ^^'^  ^  *  W 
cursing  of  his  ludT'^^^'^'^'g  creature  to  a  maudlin 

wS:r£f  ^hor'StSL'S-''^'^  P^^  °f  t'^c  task 
became  imminent     It  ^^If  ^  .^^^  ^f  X  on  him^tf 
house,  up  to  his  room.  ZTJ^tlbld'  "^^^^'^  *e 
bemg  seen  by  Lois     TW  i,,?  ^^  °°  *  couch  without 
out  this  duty  Med     She  tlr'^/''"^^*  ^^  carrying 
father  ia  her  m™?!;^,?^^^'^  ^^''cntly  caUed  for  W 
the  village  str^t  le  wt^E' ^1  ^J»>°r  P^-ed  down 
figure  toward  the  do(^    ThTLf  J^^^^""^' ungainly 
mnabout  from  the  ea^e  J^      T  ^^  ^hor  took  h^     i 
He  was  also  more  S^l  ""l""-  *^  «^<1  ^^ 
which  the  son^^bS^i^^^  ^  "  ^"ding  a  way  by 
«rtage  entS^^f  ^eTci^J^T^^  ^^°°«-    The 
That  it  should  be  ^  wL %  3  ^Z^^^  *«  "t^^et. 
would  have  P«fe:^ThoSf  sl^.'^"'""^^^^'  ^^- 
there  never  had  been  any  hXfi^^^'^™'^'^'  ^ufc 
m  It  had  been  Len's  d^~  f^  ^  I    ^^  '"""ey  came 
old  WiUoughby  W  Sr^^d^''  ^^  *  Port.on'of  the 
-«onably  be  ^^iraJ.Sl «™  Vj""'  '^«''* 
there  wa«  nothing  in  the  n«rkS  ^f^i^.^JX'^S 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

I  Street;  and  thcMgh  he  was  satisfied  with  the  site  as  en- 
abhng  hnn  to  display  his  prosperity  to  everv  one  wTo 

sX'piir  "^  -"'^  ^^«-"«^  ''^  ^^--  °f  - 

..  ^  ^f  ^7°^*^"^  County  street  when  he  came  out  from  town 

dn  i  m.r^»  ^"°"f  '^'  ^^"^^^"^  °^''  the  low  hills^e 
t.ll  It  made  a  juncture  with  Willoughby's  Lane,  by  de- 
scending that  anient  cow-path  and  bringing  Len  to  the 
pnvacy  of  his  side-door.  Thor  endeavored  to  keep  hS 
fath^s  partner   from   becoming   an   object   of  pubU^ 

I  SVe^hbr'^  "  *^'  '"*  ^  °''^  *°  « 

,      So  far  his  methods  had  been  successful.    They  failed 

Ka^J^n^'T  "-r  '^^'^^  "^  ^*  th«  -de-"°- 

t^^-  ^^^^  ^-tee  that  grew  over  the  pillars  of 

1  r^'^\^»  '°^'*  ^'  ^  *«  t"™«d  roiSid^Th^t 
she  braced  herself  to  meet  the  moment's  humiliktir 
spe_^ng  on  the  mstant  he  drew  up  at  the  stepr^       ' 

s««.  hi°^-  1°^  *^  ^'""S  P^P^  ««*  fr°«  town!  I'm 
sure  he  s  enjoyed  the  drive."    Her  hand  was  on  the  levS 

Y^I^T*  '^^  ^T.  °^  '^^  "^l^^-  "Poor  pap^ 
M  i™  "  T  "P- ,.  ^  -^  ^y  y°«'«  not  well.    Be  c^ 

feet.  Thats  a  long  step  there.  Take  my  Imd.  I 
know  you  must  be  as  tired  as  can  be" 

1 1  self  ^r^J^""  *^u^^^  complained,  as  he  lowered  h-m- 
I  self  cautioudy.    "Dog's  life.    Tha's  wha'  I  lead     No 

'  ^  ^"'J.*'  ^*^^-    ^»^'"    ^e  imprecation  w^ 

^sUv  "c,,^-  ■^°"r.^"'f^**^''~'?"h«8«>^ed. 
pee\^sMy.       Stan  m'  nght  in  my  Miray  " 

4,,  -t  >!f  '^^"^  '^  *°  ■"«•"  Thor  whiipered.  "  I  know 
JJ^whattodowithhim.    One  of  the  adages  oSg 

Willoughby  had  mind  enough  to  dutch  at  this  suews- 
31  ^^ 


I'     ' 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

?do'  Jo^S-utVoT?*'  '^^  •*  ^'    Sick  as  a  dog 
good  t4g  abouTmeT^  ^^^'"^  ^"  '^^-    Tha's  one 

covered hinwithl^gleSinah.'^  ''r  °"  ^  ~"='>' 
down  the  stairs  ag^  It  dW  nn.  ''^  'I^P'  ^"^  "«Pt 
eaed  by  the  nunu^^L  t^l  !  ^^%}''  eye.  quick- 
Lois  ladced  X  For  th^LT!  ^."''>,?f '«  Pay,  that 
observed  the,differ«.°e  ttt^nT  ?•'"'  ^'^^  ^^  ^^'^ly 
pretty  one.  "'^^  ^  P'^  woman  and  a 

doi;?Wto?t?t&'  ''.'°°"  ^  ^'  '^^^  °"t.  "I 
How  is  TtoTo  o„^^^°"  ^^  y^""  ^"<^e^  to  pWi 
you're  a  d^tod  TeU^e "w"  '°  '".^•.  °'>-  ^h^' 
anything  I  can  do?"  '  ^°"  ^^^-    ^^  there 

the'^^JSn'-.r^l^^^LT™  h'^  r ^^'''^  °-  ^"<i  on 
was  twenty-sevS'  S  1°1  fV^'l^''^'  ^^  ^L  ^he 
responsibilife  ^'JSes  whS  \'''''  P°^'°°  °f  «fe's 
he  rnea^t  to  sharlS  W  sl^  1 1^^'  ^^^'  *°  ^ 
like  Rosie  Pay.  for  Ltan^"  J      ^^^  "°*  ^  °bliged. 

And  yet  she  diHn^  i  i,  '  ^.*^"^  ^^  '"^^  alone. 
With  th^t  £  JrSt  WeTr  ''f  """^'^  ^'^^  '^^  P^- 
with  the  f^edcT^f ^ropjf S1;J:  °"^r  '"*  ^'"""^ 
which  was  neverthelLTl^H^lw'  *'^*  P'^"''  ''^^ 
forward  gaze,  ^  ea^^f^  ""^^y-  ^^  that  straight- 
meet  anj^hiz^g  TCfaSSrS""  °'  "j^^^  '^^^^  ^ 
many  of  the  tendt  nrlf k„     ^     "^  irregular,  lacking  in 

even'^t  twe^ttSven^''"'^^''  ^'  "^'"/^  *°  °*'^e'-  ^'s. 
«>ulddenyits*^o3c^a2r''°^«^''^=   ''"*  °°^ 

I U  teU  you  something  you  could  rin  •'»,«■,  -j     .  , 

"You  could  see-or  try  to  se^ttA  ''^  «aid  at  ,ast. 

too  much."    A  sHght^us^T^il*  \^  ^°^^  'P^^ 

adding.  "That  noSlSsT^'muS.-- "^*^*'°°  ^""^ 

3> 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

"You  mean  mamma  and  me?" 

He  smUed  fainUy.    "I  mean  whoever  does  the  spend- 
mg-but  your  father  most  of  aU,  because  I'm  afraid  he's 
rather  rec^ess.    He's  spent  a  good  deal  during  the  last 
twelve  or  fifteen  years,  hasn't  he?" 
spend ?'^^  ^"'^  ''"^''^'     "^°''^  than  he  had  a  right  to 

"Well  more  than  my  father,"  he  felt  it  safe  to  sav 
^^^But  he  had  more  than  your  father  to  spend,  hadn't 

"Do  you  know  that  for  a  certainty?" 

"I  only  kiww  it  from  papa  himself.  But,  oh,  Thor 
what  IS  It?    Why  are  you  asking?" 

He  ipiored  th^  questions  to  say:  "Couldn't  your 
mother  teU  us?    After  aU,  it  was  her  money,  wasn't  it?" 

She  shook  her  head.  "Oh,  mamma  wouldn't  know 
If  you  re  m  any  doubt  about  it,  why  don't  you  ask  Mr. 
Masterman?  He  could  tell  you  better  thL  any  on^ 
Besides,  mamma  isn't  in." 


"I  suppose  she's  in 


He  spoke  with  a  touch  of  scorn, 
town." 

v.oV't  Tu  T?^^  °"  ^"'=  P^  a  little  smile.  They 
SreSeS"        °°  *'  "^^'^'  ^""^^     '"^^''^  i'^^* 

''That's  just  where  she  always  is." 

''Oh  no;  not  always.    Sometimes  she  stays  at  home 
ajt  she's  th«^  pretty  often,  I  admit.     She  has  to  Zee 
calls,  partly  because  I  won't-when  I  can  help  it." 
«J;!  ^P°ke  fpprovingly.     "You,  at  any  rate,  don't  fritter 
away  your  tmie  like  other  women." 

"It  depends  on  what  other  women   ,ou  mean     I 

Wt^-r!5[  ""^  ^^'^  ^^^  ^«  ''°«e"-  even  though  it 
iM  t  hke  the  women  who  make  calls.  I  play  golf  for 
instance,  and  tennis;   I  even  ride." 

"AU  the  same,  you  don't  like  the  silly  thine  caUed 
society  any  more  than  I  do."  ^ 

There  was  dayUght  enough  to  show  him  the  blaze  oi 
33 


rim 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

dare  say  I  should  have  liked  ^-.^  ^' ,/  ''°°  *  ^°^-  I 
had  liked  me.  BuTIt  <Md?t^  '^ '"'"  '^°"8'> "  "^^^y 
a  success."  To  comnel  hi  ,„'^.'"^a  wys.  I  wasn't 
of  chann,  she  add^^th  a  n^"?*^  ^"^  m  all  her  lack 
that,  don't  your  *  P«««tent  smile.  "You  know 

year^  when  Lois^  stSl  n^tHni^   °'^''.''  *^«  ^  the 
at  dances.     Claude  waf  im^«f  J  -^  ""^'^  appearance 

JSio^^  '^'^  -^^-  ^-  siioThrasi* 

a  r^T?  -"STci  S;  t^i7.  t^r^ast.  after 
Fellows  afraid  of  her.  E^^^l^'  ^^  ^^oesn't  take, 
popular.  Hasn't  enough  d^f°^£;!?''  °^u^  ^'  ^^''^  ^'^ 
devd.  hang  it  aU!  D^TL^u  ^^^^  ^°  ^^""^  ^^ 
do-about  th^e  tim2Tye^*''i?!^."?>^f'  ^eU,  I 
hands  an  hour  at  a  time^»ii  ^  ^^  '«^*  on  my 
Think  we  have  no  cW^.^fCr"*  ^'"''^  that", 
youjelf.  old  Chap.    Vou'dtagSS^.,Xe^ls1r^ 

could  look  back  ovtthlSr  or  fiv^**  ^^  *°  ''^^e 
her  from  the  ordeal   ^/^m  Lf  ^  ^^  *'^*  ^^I^ted 
taU.  timid,  furtive^' wTteWtl^    ""  "     *^«  '^«°>P"- 
"fniming  brown  or JofSs  won^^^  ""f  "^'^  ^hose 
she  should  have  a  ^ner    i,!!?  ^^  '"'^^'her  or  not 
often  driving  homU^  f'',^^^^«  '^'^'^  her  finery 
^  strean^„g°S1^"<S'^-'Se^y  '^""'^  ^^ 
about  It  as  if  he  had  beenw,>hw'    ?r    ^^'^  ^  «nuch 
retrospectively.    We^itT^    '    ««  ^"ffered  for  her 
fece  sorrowful  '^'^ " '^  *  "^^S^  that  made  his  long 

The   sorrow   caused    T^'=    , . 

caused    Uas   some   impatience.    "Por 

w4 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

^h^\*^'  ^°''  ^'^  '°**  »*  »•  Jike  that!    It  isn't 

th.ful        ', J^f  **?'«^'  '^th  -ndignation.  only  to  fed 
that  he  was  sl<Jwly  coloring.  /  "^  icci 

He  colored  because  the  statement  brought  him  within 
measumble  distance  of  a  declaration  whi<i  heTe^t  to 
m^e,  but  for  which  he  was  not  ready.  ™  °'"°**"»  *« 
rJht^'^  J2.  ^"^^  ^^  embarrassment,  speaking 
TtLr^  ''«^^'^-     ^P'«^  ^"^'^  waste  youV^! 

Tm  LS^f'^--    "  "^L"""'"  *°  '^  P'"^''  it's  man^. 
I  m  such  a  daappointment  to  her.    Let's  talk  of  some- 

fJ^fh7f^°^  ^^^  *?  ^"^  **^'  ««"t«g  't  t°  her  credit 
g^i^er         '  '"'*  "^"^  """P"^  "  *«  '"'«''  P'^y.  the 

is  *'^She*wt,f^"^i"  "^^  •^°^-    "I  ^°^  ^^o  he 

teowSsS^^"  ^  *°  *"'  ""^^  "  "^'^«'  "' 

I'WeU,  she's  having  a  hard  time." 
Is  she?    I  should  think  she  might  " 

His  face  pew  keener.    "  Why  do  you  say  that  ?" 
aJ^a'\,     \*'  '™<^- she's   that  sort.     At  least.   I 
^oi^d  .judge  she  was  that  sort  from  the  little  I've  s;en 

''How  much  have  you  seen  of  her?" 
it^lV!^°'*  =othmg;    but  little  as  it  was,  it  impressed 
itsdfonmymind.    I  went  to  see  her  once  at  Mr  Whit- 
ney's suggestion."  "^"^ 

WhaT^Ti.  "/'  *^t  r^  ^*  S*-  J°hn's.  isn't  he? 
What^hadhetodowithher?    She  doesn't  belong  to  his 

Ixns  ^plained     "It  was  when  we  established  the 
branch  of  the   Girl's   Friendly  Society  at   St    John's 

"A^^^*^*'?"^'^*  ^^  °^8^*  eare  to  jl  it."-^ 
And  Old  she? 

"No;  quite  the  other  way.    When  I  went  to  ask  her 

3S 


TH£   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGEIS 


shen^sentedit     She  h  .  ^^^^^LS 

That's  the  A-fficuS  in^p!!'^-  ^  ''^  P«'"«izi„«  her 

He  looked  at  her  V.^?S i^^.K  ^iris  like  that."  ^• 

Wee  what?"  "'"'^'^enpng  expression.    "Girl, 


,  -    " —f"=oaioa.    "Girls 

^v^r::  L^-  ^^^  Who  haven,  „„,,  ,,„,^ 

that  reason      t»        ,'^^  themselves  infenV».  ♦  ""^ 

mjTco™,..  '"""' ""••»«»»»»,  to  hCS 

IS 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

"PffI  The  deuce  you  were  I  I  know  your  friendly 
•ocieties.  Keep  those  who  are  down  down.  Help  the 
humble  to  be  humbler  by  making  them  obsequious." 

"You  know  nothing  at  all  about  it,"  she  declared, 
with  spirit.  "In  trying  to  make  things  better  you're 
content  to  spin  theories,  while  we  put  something  into 
practice." 

He  snapped  the  door  of  the  second  lamp  with  a  little 
bang.  "  Put  something  into  practice,  with  the  result  that 
people  resent  it." 

"With  the  result  that  Rosie  Fay  resented  it;  but  she's 
not  a  fair  example.  She's  proud  and  rebellious  and  in- 
tense.   I  never  saw  any  one  just  like  her." 

"You  probably  never  saw  any  one  who  had  to  be  like 
her  because  they'd  had  her  luck.  Look  here,  Lois,"  he 
said,  with  sudden  earnestness,  "I  want  you  to  be  a  friend 
to  that  girl." 

^   She  opened  her  eyes  in  mild  surprise  at  his  intensity. 
"There's  nothing  I  should  like  better,  if  I  knew  how." 

"  But  you  do  know  how.  It's  easy  enough.  Treat  her 
as  you  would  a  girl  in  your  own  class— Elsie  Darling,  for 
instance." 

"  It's  not  so  simple  as  that.  When  Elsie  Darling  came 
back  after  five  or  six  years  abroad  mamma  and  I  drove  into 
town  and  called  on  her.  She  wasn't  in,  and  we  left  our 
cards.  Later,  we  invited  her  to  lunch  or  to  dinner.  I 
should  be  perfectly  willing  to  go  through  the  same  formal- 
ities with  Miss  Fay— only  she'd  think  it  queer.  It  would 
be  queer.  It  would  be  queer  because  she  hasn't  got — 
what  shall  I  say?— she  hasn't  got  the  social  machinery 
for  that  kind  of  ceremoniousness.  The  machinery  means 
the  method  of  approach,  and  with  people  who  have  to 
live  as  she  does  it's  the  method  of  approach  that  presents 
the  difficulty.     It's  not  as  easy  as  it  looks." 

"Very  well,  then;   let  us  admit  that  it's  hard.    The 
harder  it  is  the  more  it's  the  job  for  you." 
There  was  an  illuminating  quality  in  her  smile  that 
37 


;     1: 

.1 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 


"Oh,  if  you  put  it  in  th»t 


•toned  for  lack  of  beftutv 

way — "  '■  . 

a^somanythingi^^iTlSTh^t'"'*'-  ."^^^ 
the  one  to  help  nie"  ^  "^"'''P' Lo»-and  you'm 

want  me  to  do  wU  ^^Tj^",  *^"  ""^''ot  you 
"Oh,  there-U  be  a  10^072^!,^)  *'."-«"d  I'"  try." 
to  puJl  together,"  he  ^daihe^i,",!;'^'^?  '^l  ^  have 
you  to  imomb^r.  if  ^e^^v  t^,M  ^'^^  "^  ^"^^ 
hesitated  for  a  word  th«/^^ii^'''*  **««•  that  "-he 
moment-"t4  ru^?thr^<l"  t  '"^  *«>  >»«*  for  the 

Z'^hd^?"';   That's  a  gr-at  comfort." 
-ihr'S:^e'mov^tSt    0">etly,too.sheas. 
not  fail  to  force  hSaJ^n^  p''^'"tP'•  "^'  =*«  would 
that  other  maVter^lT    °°  ^'^,"'  ^^y-     "And  about 
me  more  by  and  b^  w^^ry^^''^'*'  "'  ^-^'^  '^ 

P-mpJeSl^n:^  ttf Kh'-  '•'^  --^tiousness 
of  him.    "  ru  teU  vou  !^!^-      t  ^  '^^  ^^  1"^^  ««« 
these  days.  L^  {'^^^71^' ^'^  T'  '«<^°"«of 
She  mounted  a  st^^  d  "^""^^T^y  a  lot  mor«." 

him.     "Oh.  w5l?"S^d^?  J"^*  ^"^S  •''^^y  f"»> 
topic  of  no  import^!  ".rt^/  ^  *''°«eh  dismissing  a 

But  her  Sw^ThJ^      "  "^  P'"'*^  °f  t™"  " 
«ni]ed  m«^TtS^  fe\°"V°  ^^f  ^^^  *^*  "e  who 

He  could  L«:elyStS=t5  SX*^'  "^'^*- 
pleasure  was  not  in  any  E,^c^^*"'  ?"  ^^  *hat  his 
she  might  bring  toTl^?f^5  ^^'  ^^  '"  the  help 
haunted  him^^  the  afSL?^*"j^  7^°^  i°««e  had 
desperate  floweT-like  fS^T^"^  ^"^l  '^^  whose 
««««d  of  poiase^       ^^^  «P  at  him  from  a  back- 


I 


CHAPTER  V 

ON  coining  to  the  table  that  evening  Claude  begged 
hi«  mother  to  excuse  him  for  not  having  dressed  for 
dinner,  on  the  ground  that  he  had  an  engagement  with 
Billy  Cheever.  Mrs.  Masterman  pardoned  him  with  a 
gracious  inclination  of  the  head  that  made  her  diamond 
ear-rings  sparkle.  No  one  in  the  room  could  be  unaware 
that  she  disapproved  of  Claude's  informaUty.  Not  only 
did  it  shock  her  personal  deUcacy  to  dine  with  men  who 
concealed  their  shirt-bosoms  under  the  waistcoats  they 
had  worn  all  day,  but  it  contravened  the  aims  by  which 
during  her  entire  married  life  she  had  endeavored  to 
elevate  the  society  around  her.  She  herself  was  one  to 
whom  the  refinements  were  as  native  as  foliage  to  a  tree. 
"  It's  all  right,  Claudie  dear;  but  you  do  know  I  like  you 
to  dress  for  the  evening,  don't  you?"  Without  waiting 
for  the  younger  son  to  speak,  she  continued  graciously 
to  the  elder:  "And  you,  Thor.  What  have  you  been 
doing  with  yourself  to-day?" 

Her  polite  inclusion  of  her  stepson  was  meant  to  start 
her  men,"  as  she  called  them,  in  the  kind  of  conversation 
m  which  men  were  most  at  ease,  that  which  concerned 
themselves.  Thor  replied  while  consuming  his  soup  in 
ttie  manner  acquired  in  Parisian  and  Viennese  restaurants 
frequented  by  young  men: 

"Got  a  patient." 

Hastily  Claude  introduced  a  subject  of  his  own.   "Ought 
to  go  and  see  *  The  Champion,'  father.    Hear  it's  awfuUy 
good.    Begins  with  a  prize-fight—" 
39 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE  ANGELS 

yoJS<tl'u?r'*'*^«---Pve„toThor.   "Who've 

^■2?r./'^-/"M«.Mastem^  begged.    "Don,  eat 

said  "knowit  alw^Z"  o  !J^  *°  ^"^"^  out  of  it  "    nt 

cWdl,ke  quality  to  his  si^    ^^h^ch  gave  an  appealing, 
parents  who  are  not  ,0^0  p.y'^'^  '"^  -  ^y  taking 

^owly  and  sit  str^gh?^rtS"'V  '?"^^  '^^  ^  eat 
^^othe....i..J,--s^^e^^^,^J 

j^g^te  right  the«...  his  father  ag^ed.    -He's  done  it 

Thor   considered  t1i 
^°^^g  his  appeal     "r,™?'^*   *  favorable  one   f™- 
him  over-"  ^^-      ^'^"^^^  ^d  I  have  been  ^^ 
The  devil  we  havo  i"  rii     j 
•'What's  that?"  MLS^"'^^.^?^«''»*gnantly 
a^terUsday'sworkwa^S/^^J^'l^e  fa^wWch 
sh^ly  interrogative     S  ^  ^  8^^^  and  lifeless,  grew 
cisiveness  not  ,w  iune  had  chiseled  it  f«  o„  • 

h;„  t.  •  '  '"«>ngruous  with  o  i.-_      •       "  to  an  m- 

His  hau-.  mustache,  andfanZii  ^T"«  ^  °f  youth 
Sray.  His  figure  ^sti^?!?*'  ''^  '^t  touched  wi^ 
custom  to  say  of  hi^h  !^  ^.*''^  *°d  spare.  It  was^h- 
two  st«ppinj  i^^  *'"'  ^«  ^-J'^i  but  the  bni4^  £3° 


il 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

Claude  emphasized  his  annoyance.  "  Talking  him  over! 
I  hke  that !  You  blow  into  the  office  just  as  I'm  ready  to 
come  home,  and  begin  cross-questioning  me  about  father's 
affaais.  I  tell  you  I  don't  know  anything  about  them.  If 
you  call  that  talking  him  ovei^well,  you're  welcome  to 
your  own  tise  of  tenns." 

The  head  of  the  house  busied  himself  in  carving  the 
joint  which  had  been  placed  before  him.  "If  you  want 
information,  Thor,  ask  me." 

"I  don't  want  information,  father;  and  I  don't  think 
Claude  is  fair  in  saying  I  cross-questioned  him.  I  only 
said  that  I  thought  he  and  I  ought  to  do  what  we  could 
to  get  you  to  renew  Fay's  lease." 

"Oh,  did  you?  Then  I  can  save  you  the  trouble,  be- 
cause I  m  not  going  to." 

The  declaration  was  so  definite  that  it  left  Thor  with 
nothing  to  say.    "  Poor  old  Fay  has  worked  pretty  hard 
hasn't  he?"  he  ventured  at  last. 
"Possibly.    So  have  I." 

"But  with  the  difference  that  you've  been  prosperous, 
and  he  hasn't." 

Masterman  laughed  good-naturedly.  "Which  is  the 
Mference  between  me  and  a  good  many  other  people. 
You  don't  blame  me  for  that?" 

"It's  not  a  question  of  blaming  any  one,  father.  I 
only  supposed  that  among  Americans  it  was  the  correct 
thing  for  the  lucky  ones  to  come  to  the  aid  of  the  less 
fortunate." 

"Take  it  that  I'm  doing  that  for  Pay  when  I  get  him 
out  of  an  impossible  situation." 

Thor  smiled  ruefully.  "When  you  get  him  out  of  the 
frymg-pan  into  the  fire?" 

..  1^^','  ^^^"^^  chaUenged,  coming  to  his  father's  aid, 
the  fire  s  no  worse  than  the  frying-pan,  and  may  be  a 

little  better." 
"  I've  seen  the  girl,"  Mrs.  Masterman  contributed  to  the 

discussion.    "She's  been  in  the  greenhouse  when  I've  Eone 
*  4X 


M 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

w««ne^^d1,S^*°'"''^^-  Most  of  us 
years  ago.  IvThe^-t^f  "^^  "^  *°  ^°rty  <»•  fifty 
tion  he  had  r^Zk^\T^  °°'  "^°S  the  infonj 

'■^;  m"*  ?°^'«ys'"  M«-  Mastennan  smiled 
The  Mastermans  didn't  "  AroW»  .  -j         ." 
won't  foiget  that,  my  bov'    W^?^   ^'*'  «^*'y-    "You 
other  sidl,  you  Ce  ^  J^**"^  you  may  be  on  any 
Your  gmndfaS^L?^  *  ^'^  °^  gentlemen  on  mine 
old-school  pSCtr^  ^°'?  ^^  *^*  best-known 
father  befor^  C^  ^ctX^  p^  the  counby.    His 
Derbyshire,  ^boZ^ttS^^A°  ^°^^'*  clersyman  in 
come  a  Unitarian     S^  of  ^«fit*"^  '^"^  he'd  be- 
days.    Time^aodte^li^i.   ^t  of 'em  in  those 

repubUc,  or  a  scLlled  dSL't:^'!^^  r;?"«i 
for  one  another,  and  thevlL^^^'*  ,  ,  •  P*°P'«  hving 
ber  one  like  e^«,e  Z  "^i,""*!  °°^«  «»t  for  num- 

me  as  far  more  impoi^t  to  te^^  ^  "Sv.^*  '^^^ 

43 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

where  every  one's  swimming  for  his  own  dear  life  th«» 

whocaa't  swim  have  gotto  drown."  *  ""** 

But  every  one  is  not  swimming  for  his  own  dear  life 

Mrs  MastCTmanialUed  her  stepson  indulgently.    "Oh 
Thor.  how  ndiodous  you  are!    How  you  tllk!" 
Claude  patted  his  mother's  hand.    He  ^  still  trv«,<, 

wS^l?^°vi^''°^P''y-  Beastly  Lialist,tl5^'s 
wnat  ne  is.  Divide  up  all  the  money  in  the  world  so  th  ^ 
ev^body'U  have  thirty  cents.  aadShen  t^ '1  to^o 
ah^  and  hve  regardless.    That 'd  be  his  way  rf  ^oif  g 

Th^*s  *So  ^f.Sn  T  '""^  '■"^-  "O^  ''°'  it  wouldn't, 
inors  no  fool!    Has  some  exceUent  ideas.    A  Httle 

S^^th^fe  ^\  *^*  -U  cure  i^  i^  C 
S*  2  Kder^  ^^4'^  "l^";^^  affection- 
boy,  than  with  an  empty  h^  "  ^°"  *^*  ^"^^  "^^ 
Thor  feU  silent,  from  a  sense  of  the  futility  of  talking. 


CHAPTER  VI 

with  relief  tr/hi^^hlrl^^'  ^?^'  ^^y  ^^  ''°«'=i^ 
sedative  had^^Te^  i^^  .  t!^"^-  ^*  "^t-  Thorl 
nick  of  time.  H^^"  ri^^l^"  «^'  considered  the 
patchwork  quilt^^Shlt^^,  f  °"'  ^^"«*«^  ^^e 
on  a  chair  at  the  foot  of  a^l3  ^^  ^^o^^  hand-lamp 
sl^per-s  eyes,  shll^^^^^^t^^  ^^"^^  ^*  ^  «"' 

fl^?a:^^f^^;-gS;stSTha'rh't  ^'^^^'-^ 

color.  The  lampli-rht  or^f^^^"^^^^^"^ 
drew  opalescent  Ks  iL^l  ""^  ^^*  °^  ^er  own, 
descend^.  She  t^noTn^  ^'"f  "^"^^  ^^^  ^  *« 
Httle  Rode  of  L'^^t^oJ^^J'f^I^te  petulant 
an  eager  Hfe     The  diff^  ,  ^^  ^^  ^'o^  with 

wiltmg  for  Lk  o^  wtS^d  thf  '"^^  ^*^^  *  ^'°^ 
In  the  ti^U,^!!15l*'^!  ^«  fl°^er  fed  by  min. 

father  was  eTti^rthe^pe  £  £S*,°'.*'  ^^  ''^^ 
It  was  a  humble  aTor^ T LS  *^  '^^  °"*  ^°'  ^^■ 
covered  witS^  L^J^^tton  T^k"",  *^"  ^""^  "^  «  t^^le 
•nixture.    Jasper  plv  T^     it  °J  ^  "^  ^d  sky-blue 

cold  meat  SiSiiirtSwtr;''''^'''  """'*«*  «« 
with  a  book  prepS  a^ir..  ^,^  ^^  entertained  himself 
smaU  keros^effilat^^f  ^  ^?^.°^  ''^^-  Another 
pap  and'^n'^t^i'^^-^^^t  on  the  printed 

She's  asleep  "  Ro<:,rwV        Tl'  '^'ean-shaven  face. 
•■IfshewakesThile?mgontX^    "^  .*^'  u^°°"'^y- 
dose.    I've  left  it  oa'hewXS^""''''*^'^"** 
44 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

The  man  lifted  his  (tany  blue  eyes.  "You  going 
out?" 

"I'm  only  going  for  a  little  while." 

"Couldn't  you  have  gone  earlier?" 

"How  could  I,  when  I  had  supper  to  get— and  every- 
thing?" 

He  looked  uneasy.  "I  don't  like  you  to  be  running 
round  these  dark  roads,  my  dsex.  You've  been  doing  it  a 
good  deal  lately.    Where  is  it  you  go?" 

"Why,  father,  what  nonsense  I  Here  I  am  cooped  up 
all  day— " 

He  sighed.  '  Very  well,  my  dear.  I  know  you  haven't 
much  pleasure.  But  things  will  be  different  soon,  I  hope. 
The  new  night  fireman  seems  a  good  man,  and  I  expect 
we'll  do  better  now.  He'll  be  here  at  ten.  Were  you 
going  far?" 

She  answered  promptly.  "Only  to  Polly  Wilson's. 
She  wants  me  to"  —  Rosie  turned  over  in  her  mind 
the  various  interests  on  which  Polly  Wilson  might 
desire  to  consult  her — ^"she  wants  me  to  see  her  new 
dress." 

"Very  well,  my  dear,  but  I  hope  after  this  evening 
you'll  be  able  to  do  your  errands  in  the  daytime.  You 
know  how  it  was  with  Matt.  If  he  hadn't  gone  roaming 
the  streets  at  night — " 

Rosie  came  close  to  the  table.  Her  face  was  resolute. 
"Father,  I'm  not  Matt.  I  know  what  I'm  doing."  She 
added,  with  increased  determination,  "I'm  acting  for  the 
best." 

He  was  mildly  surprised.  ' '  Acting  for  the  best  in  going 
to  see  Polly  Wilson's  new  dress?" 

She  ignored  this.  "I'm  twenty-three,  father.  I've  got 
to  follow  my  own  judgment.  If  I've  a  chance  I  must  use 
it." 

"What  sort  of  a  chance,  my  dear?" 

"  There's  nothing  to  hope  for  here,"  she  went  on,  cruelly, 
"eso^t  from  what  I  can  do  myself.  Mother's  no  good; 
45 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  AKnv 

^  ""r  *^  "^  ^^'  K^  i^r  r  r"^- 

«>«  new  fee„«„  ^  way^^t 'theX^..*^«  *^  "^ 
Sh2Sfrf<wJ^dS^J>l>t.  but  not  a  cold  on^ 

was  about  todo     n       ''^  *  *°«  of  taroTat  r^h!  T 

As  she  had  alreadv  sain  t„T     ,"^"  *«  keep  this  trJl 

-"doto..  ^JStW^^^--hek„L*irhatre 

»«^«.  young  nor  so  inexperienced 


THE   SIDE  OP  THE   ANGELS 

tng  foreanned,  she  could  run  the  risks     R.inni.,^  lu 

nt  1°JJ^  7"  "Mnanoe.  romance  of  the  sort  she  had  dreamed 

tt^.w!^'**^*-  Somehow,  she  had  alwa^^tao^ 
It  would  come.  She  could  hardly  go  back  o  tiietiZ 
wh«a  she  did  not  have  this  p.«nL^on^ /,„?«  S 

in^^^^-"^*-    ««'«d««»e  late  on  an  afternoon 

s^sss^ch^^rr^th^^-beS 

:^°S?nhTs:^°""^^^-'^«^^-^t'>"S 

or  was  It  the  sweet,  wandering,  summer  air?    Wasittha 

^il1J^"''^r^^<^  ^^-''^  soft  ioaTSltS 
M  She  crept  among  the  brambles,  or  was  it  the  shimmw 
of  the  wanmg  sunUght  or  tte  whir  of  the  wta^T^ 

S^fev^  t,'StaTii'wr^t  -^  ^^^ 

sweheart.  that  she  sang  to  herself  as  her  nimble  fingers 
secure  thejmcy,  dehcate  red  things  and  dropped  th"^ 

a£  *^h  If*  ^^;  °:  ?>""•  "^  '^y  °^  woodland 
S  ^  iT"'*.."*  '^  ^PP'^^'  "^  «^«>  that  rf 
^f^J^'T*  ^T  ■*"  '^^  '•^^  «y«  he  was  standinir 
ma  patch  of  bracken.  She  had  beei  stooping  toS 
47 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

ttejruit  tiiat  dtMtered  on  a  long.  low.  spiny  itani.    Thi 
words  on  her  lips  had  been: 

At  least  be  pity  to  me  ihown 
If  love  it  may  na  ' 


but  her  voice  trailed  away  faintly  on  the  last  syllable 
for  on  loofang  up  he  was  before  her.    He  wore  whit<l 

flannels  and  a  Panama  hat  of  which  the  brim  was  roguishly 
puUed  down  m  front  to  shade  his  eyes. 

He  was  smiling  unabashed,  and  yet  with  a  friendliness 
ttat  made  it  impossible  for  her  to  take  offense.  "Isn't  it 
KosieP  he  asked,  withoutmoving  from  where  he  stood  in 
thepatchoftrampledbracken.  "I'mClaude.  Don'tvou 
remember  me? 

A  Delphic  nymph  who  had  been  addressed  by  Ap<dlo. 
m  the  sedusion  of  some  sacred  grove,  could  harfly  hTv*! 
felt  mwejoyoiK  or  more  dumb.  Rosie  Fay  did  not  know 
m  what  kmd  of  words  to  answer  the  glistening  being  who 
had  spoken  to  her  with  this  fine  famiKarity.  Lato.  in 
tte  siloice  of  the  night,  she  blushed  with  shame  to  think 
of  the  figure  she  must  have  cut.  standing  speechless  before 
mm.  the  pan  of  red  raspberries  in  her  hands,  her  raspberry- 
red  hps  apart  m  amazement,  and  her  eyes  gleaming  and 
wide  with  awe. 

She  remained  vague  as  to  what  she  answered  in  the  end. 
ft^  confusedly  to  the  effect  that  though  she  remem- 
t)ered  him  weU  enough,  she  supposed  that  he  had  long  aco 
fMgottm  one  so  insignificant  as  herself.  PresenUyhe^ 
oeside  her.  dropping  raspberries  into  her  pan,  while  they 
laughed  together  as  in  those  early  days  when  they  had 
picked  peas  by  her  father's  permission  in  Grandpa  Thor- 
ley's  garden.  ^ 

-iJ^wuT"'*,.?****"'^  "^  accidental— if  it  was  acd- 
d«ital  that  each  had  come  to  the  same  spot,  at  the  same 

ntw  °%t  \t^S^^  ^^'  ^  ^^  ^°P^  °^  ^^f(  the 
other.    The  third  meetmg  was  also  on  the  same  soot 

48  ^' 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

but  by  appointment,  in  secret,  and  at  night.  Claude 
had  been  careful  to  impress  on  her  the  disaster  that  would 
ensue  if  their  romance  were  discovered. 

But  Rosie  Fay  knew  what  she  was  doing.  She  re- 
peated that  statement  often  to  herself.  Had  she  really 
been  a  Ddphic  nymph,  or  even  a  young  lady  of  the  best 
society,  she  might  have  given  herself  without  reserve  to 
the  rapture  of  her  idyl;  but  her  circumstances  were 
peculiar.  Rosie  was  obliged  to  be  practical,  to  look 
ahead.  A  fairy  prince  was  not  only  a  romantic  dream 
in  her  dreary  life,  but  an  agency  to  be  utilized.  The  least 
self-seeking  of  drowning  maids  might  expect  the  hero 
on  the  bank  to  pull  her  out  of  the  water.  The  very  fact 
that  she  recognized  in  Claude  a  tendency  to  dally  with 
her  on  the  brink  instead  of  landing  lier  in  a  place  of  safety 
compelled  her  to  be  the  more  astute. 

But  she  wns  not  so  astute  as  to  be  inaccessible  to  the 
sense  of  terror  that  assailed  her  every  time  she  went  to 
meet  him.  It  was  the  fright  of  one  accustomed  to  walk 
on  earth  when  seized  and  borne  into  the  air.  Claude's 
voice  over  the  telephone,  as  she  had  heard  it  that  after- 
noon, was  like  the  call  to  adventures  at  once  enthralling 
and  appalling,  in  which  she  found  it  hard  to  keep  her  head. 
She  kept  it  only  by  saying  to  herself:  " I  know  what  I'm 
doing.  I  know  what  I'm  doing.  My  father  is  ruined; 
my  brother  is  in  jail.  But  I  love  this  man  and  he  loves 
me.    If  he  marries  me — " 

But  Rosie's  thoughts  broke  off  abruptly  there.  They 
broke  oS  because  they  reached  a  point  beyond  which 
imagination  would  not  carry  her.  If  he  marries  met 
The  supposition  led  her  where  all  was  blurred  and  roseate 
and  golden,  Kke  the  mists  around  the  Happy  Isles.  Rosie 
could  not  forecast  the  conditions  that  would  be  hers  as 
the  wife  of  Claude  Masterman.  She  only  knew  that  she 
would  be  transported  into  an  atmosphere  of  money,  and 
money  she  had  learned  by  sore  experience  to  be  the  sov- 
ereign palliative  of  care.  Love  was  much  to  poor  Rosie, 
49 


THE  SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

<«atu«  wUe  C  ^L^T^  btartag.  to  the  ti«d 
Claude  Ma«t«m«  .*Z!r  ^  ^-  I*  *••  for  rert  that 
'^•fuuo  flia»tenn«n  stood  pmnarilv  in  Imp  mJn/i  ii 
•  fiury  prince,  of  couwe:  heWi  Im,^  ^  •  ."'.'^ 
satisfied  any  atVal!^r^^  V7T  "'^  '"'«''*  l»v» 
^  he  was'a  So'  ^t^  ^*J^'«7"  ^y^ythinK 
potentialities   both  ann-.i  TJTt!      ^^  "*  "^Oie  vast 

^fugeandSd^aTSS  "'  '^'=^'  '^^  ««"  ^^ 

-^-n^-  moon;  ^e  dSr^;^*«bS£'^r  IS" 
troag  air;  she  aorvwl.^  ♦«  -n^  oreams  of  the  sweet, 

knew  anyihkK  rff  A     ^  .^''l  '"'PPOrting  for«s  she 

th««ghfflLS;    ^'^"*«'«t«^'*e  was  speeding 


CHAPTER  VII 


BETWEEN  the  greenhouiei,  of  which  the  glaa* 
gleamed  dimly  in  the  moonlight,  Rosie  followed  a 
path  that  straggled  down  the  slope  of  her  father's  land 
to  the  new  boulevard  round  the  pond.  The  boulevard 
here  swept  inland  about  the  base  of  Duck  Rock,  in  order 
to  leave  that  wooded  bluff  an  Inviolate  feature  of  the 
landscape.  So  inviolate  had  it  been  that  during  the 
months  since  Rosie  had  picked  wild  raspberries  in  its 
boskage  the  park  commissioners  had  seized  on  it  as  a  spot 
to  be  subdued  by  winding  paths  and  restful  benches.  To 
make  it  the  more  civilized  and  inviting  they  had  placed 
one  of  the  arc-lamps  that  now  garlanded  the  circuit  of  the 
pond  just  where  it  would  guide  the  feet  of  lovers  into  the 
alluring  shade.  Rosie  was  glad  of  this  friendly  light 
before  engaging  on  the  rough  path  up  the  bluff  under  the 
skeleton-like  trees.  She  was  not  afraid;  she  was  only 
nervous,  and  the  light  gave  her  confidence. 

But  to-night,  as  she  emerged  on  the  broad  boulevard 
feom  the  weedy  outskirts  of  her  father's  garden,  the  clatter 
of  horse-hoofs  startled  her  into  drawing  back.  She  would 
have  got  herself  altogether  out  of  sight  had  there  been 
anything  at  hand  in  the  nature  of  a  shrub  high  enough  to 
conceal  her.  As  it  was  she  could  only  shrink  to  the 
extreme  edge  of  the  roadside,  hoping  that  the  rider,  who- 
ever he  was,  would  pass  without  seeing  her.  This  he 
might  have  done  had  not  the  bay  mare  Delia,  unaccus- 
tomed to  the  sight  of  young  ladies  roaming  alone  at  night, 
thought  it  the  part  of  propriety  to  shy. 

"Whoa,  Delia!  whoal  What's  the  matter?  Steady, 
SI 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

Junlt'Sluk'^'^'*-    =^'«'Jy««.tobeout. 

.hebith<^to„gueattheS?SU;^*'    Oh P' though 

Uncle  Sun  laughed  merrilv     'WVn-* 
frightened-pretty  girl   m^^C«„  ^  •,'^*  y°"'« 
Claude  thhShe  U     sZJT'    ^  "^  •  feUow, 
^  weU.  that  wS,^,  .S^y  SSe^r.*^^  ft 

De«a'»  bade,  JrepSTS^L^tST*"'  ^"f^^  *^ 
the  girl  on  fit^m^^  toe  mare  and  accompany 

up  ^ooi-iSe lZ  'FL'Z^^L'^'  °"^  ym.J^l 

•leep  better^ir  rJ?  7^  U  do  you  good.  You'U 

•ee  her?    What  Sd^  ri^  hS?    ^S^*^'  ^°''  «»»•  »» 
itmakehersleq,r        *^       *^    Did  «he  take  it?    Did 

^^m:^„r.sry-^..- 

•tmightbl^SJX'Lra^^^  But  if  you'U  go 
y°«"  He  watchrf  W  Lv.  ^"""y'»^<^"bout 
night!"  he  caJted  '^'  "*"  "^t«i-    "Good 

^^^  night."  oune  her  voice  6om  half-way  up  the 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

^  WM  obliged  to  wait  in  the  shadow  of  an  outlyin* 
hothouae  tiU  the  sound  of  Delia's  hoofs,  clattering  off 
toward  the  Old  Village,  died  away  on  the  night.  She 
crept  back  again,  cautiously.  Cautiously,  too,  she  stole 
•cross  the  boulevard  and  into  the  wood.  Once  there,  she 
few  up  the  path  with  the  frantic  eagerness  of  a  hare. 
She  was  afraid  Claude  might  have  come  and  gone.  She 
was  afraid  of  the  incident  with  old  Sim.  What  did  he 
mean?  Did  he  mean  anything?  If  he  betrayed  Claude 
«t  h«ne,  would  it  keep  the  latter  from  meeting  her? 
She  had  no  great  confidence  in  Claude's  ability  to  with- 
stand authority.  She  had  no  great  confidence  in  any- 
thmg,  not  even  in  his  love,  or  in  her  own.  The  love  was 
true  enough;  it  was  ardently,  desperately  true;  but  would 
It  bear  the  strain  that  could  so  easily  be  put  upon  it? 
She  felt  herself  swept  by  an  immense  longing  to  be  sure. 

SIm  had  so  many  subjects  to  think  of  and  to  dread  that 
she  forgot  to  be  frightened  as  she  sped  up  the  bluff.  It 
jras  only  on  reaching  the  summit  and  discovering  that 
Claude  wasn't  there  that  she  was  seized  by  fear.  There 
was  a  bench  beside  her— a  round  bench  circling  the  trunk 
of  an  oak-tree— and  she  sank  upon  it. 

The  crunching  of  footsteps  told  her  some  one  was 
coming  up  the  slope.  In  aU  probabiHty  it  was  Claude; 
but  It  might  be  a  stranger,  or  even  an  animal.  The 
crunching  continued,  measured,  slow.  She  would  have 
fled  if  there  had  been  any  way  of  fleeing  without  encounter- 
mg  the  object  of  her  alarm.  The  regular  beat  of  the  foot- 
steps growing  heavier  and  nearer  through  the  darkness 
rendered  her  ahnost  hysterical.  When  at  last  Claude's 
figure  emerged  into  the  moonlight,  his  erect  slendemess 
defined  against  the  sky,  she  threw  herself,  sobbing,  into 
his  arms. 

It  was  not  the  least  of  Claude's  attractions  that  he  was 
» tender  with  women  swept  by  crises  of  emotion.  Where 
Thor  would  have  stood  helpless,  or  prescribed  a  mUd 
53 


ill 


i 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

lJS,5:t  tL'rSe"«^Sed"'ar^-  '^"f^^  to 
his  meeting  with  Undf  Si^  tT        ^  '°  *^^8  by 

"Awful  nuisance,  he  is.    Regular  Paul  Prv     r.„-* 

know  when  you'll  meet  him  "         ^^  "    '^^''^ 

hei'^c^  ^'  *°°'"  *°^«  '«*<^'  ««tti«g  «»ne  control  of 

"The  deuce  you  did!    Did  he  sneak  tn  v™, >    tvj  u 
say  anything  about  me?"      **  """^P^^  *»  you?    D,d  he 

"He  said  he'd  seen  you  " 

"Is  that  aU?" 

She  weighed  the  possible  disadvantages  nf  .<.,„•„    * 

me  against  you  "  h    -^  «u.    ne  seemed  to— warn 

^  Do  you  thmk  he's  up  to  anything?"  P  «"«'W■ 

^^  ,,What  else  did  he  say?    TeU  me  all  you  can  think 

^he  parrated  the  brief  incident. 
^   Will  it  make  any  diflference  to  us?"  she  ventured 

oi'^7^'  *  *^^*  to  us  if  he  blabs  to  father. 

.','^t  sort  of  diflference,  Claude?" 
to  pay^'*^  °*  *^*^*  't  "^"^  ''•'«'  there's  the  devU 

^In** .w^  him  to  her  the  more  closely.    "Does  that 
m^^^that  we  shouldn't  be  able  to  see  Lh  olSS  ^^ 

54 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

undOT  a  selection  of  those  fond  epithete  in  which  W« 

^b.^  was  large.    In  the  ve,?"p^VSyiS 

them  R<^e  was  rallying  her  strwigth.    She  was  S 

daspu^  him  as  she  withdrw  her  h,^slighUy^lS; 

up  at  him  through  the  moonUght.  ^ 

•Claude,  I  want  to  ask  you  something." 

With  his  hand  on  the  knot  of  her  hair,  he  pressed  her 

face  once  more  against  his.    "Yes.  yes    daruZ^Ari^ 

me  anythmg.    Yes.  yes.  yes.  yes."  ^     ^ 

engjedr"'^  ^  *»  ^  P'^^K  '^th  the  words.  "Are  we 

The  ^gming  ceased.    Without  relaxing  his  embrace  he 

thl/relJ^i'^Stf^^^  ^  '^^^  they-re-^hen 

Brudiing  his  Kps  over  the  velvet  of  her  cheeks    he 

b^antopurr^    .-No  <«e  was  ever   likeS^iing 

w^r^o^^t^tS^."'^'*  ""^  '^  ''^^  '^'^  ^^ 
wh'iS"*I  L^^  '"***"  ^  •"*•  ^'*"''«-  I  ''^t  to  J°>o«r 
thl^^gh^^r  '"•■'^^-    You're  here  with  me.    Isn't 

"It's  enough  for  now.  Claude,  but—" 
^^d^isn't  what's  enough  for  now  aU  we've  got  to 

"No.  Claude  dearest!    A  girl  isn't  like  a  man-" 
Oh  yes.  she  is.  when  she  loves.    And  you  love  me 
dont  you.  dearie?    You  love  me  just  a  Uttie.    ZyZi, 
love  meHust  a  little-a  verv  Uttie-"  *»/ you 

J!,^\^'^%'^r  ^^^'  °y  <Jarling.  you  know  I  love 
you.    You're  aU  I've  got  in  the  world-" 

^,r^   1°^'^.  *"  ^y^  ^'  "y  "**•«  R«^e-    Nothing  else 
counts  when  I'm  with  you—" 

"But  when  you're  not  with  me,  Claude?    What  then? 

55 


THE    SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

mi*tobei^  ^""^^  '''**°  ^^'"'  *'^^  *™"  "*^    ^'^'"* 

"Be  just  as  you  are.  Be  just  as  you've  always  been 
since  the  day  I  first  saw  you—" 

"Yes,  yes,  Claude;  but  you  don't  understand.  If  any 
^e^ere  to  find  out  that  I  came  here  to  meet  you  like 

"No  one  must  find  out,  dear.  We  must  keep  that 
mum.  ^ 

t'^^"*^  ^^  ^^'  ^^^^^'  '*  wouldn't  matter  to  you 

"Oh,  wouldn't  it,  though?  Pather'd  make  it  matter, 
1  can  tell  you. 

"Yes,  but  you  wouldn.'t  be  disgraced.  I  should  be 
Uon  t  you  see?    No  one  would  ever  believe—" 

"Oh,  what  does  it  matter  what  any  one  believes.  Let 
them  all  go  hang." 

"We  cMi't  let  them  aU  go  hang.    You  can't  let  your 
father  go  hang  and  I  can't  let  mine.    Do  you  know  what 
S^.i*,*!jf  w°|^d  do  to  me  if  he  knew  where  I  am  now. 
lie  d  kill  me. 
"Oh,  rot,  Rosiel" 

"  No,  no,  CUude;  I'm  telling  you  the  truth.  He's  that 
sort  You  wouldn't  think  it,  but  he  is.  He's  one  of  those 
auld,  dreamy  men  who,  when  they're  enraged-which 
m  t  often— don  t  know  where  to  stop.  If  he  thought  I'd 
done  wnmg  he'd  put  a  knife  into  me,  just  Uke  that." 
btie  struck  her  clendied  hand  against  his  heert.  "  When 
Matt  was  arrested—" 

He  tOTe  himself  from  her  suddenly.    The  sensitive  part 

of  hmi  had  been  touched.     "Oh,  Lord,  Rosie,  don't  Irt's 

go  into  that.     I  hate  that  business.    I  try  to  forget  it  " 

_  No  one  can  forget  it  who  iwnembers  me." 

'■  Oh  yes,  they  can.    /  can— when  yon  don't  drag  it  up. 

What  s  the  use,  Rosie?    Why  not  be  happy  for  the  few 

hours  every  now  and  then  that  we  can  get  together? 

What  s  got  mto  you.?"    He  changed  his  tone.    "You  hurt 

S6 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

me,  Rosie,  you  hurt  me.  You  talk  as  if  you  didn't  trust 
me.  You  seem  to  have  suspidons,  to  be  making 
schemes — " 

"Oh,  Claude!  For  God's  sake!"  Rosie,  too,  was 
touched  on  the  quick,  perhaps  by  some  truth  in  the  ac- 
cusation. 

He  kissed  her  ardently.  "I  know,  dear;  I  know.  I 
know  it's  all  right— that  you  don't  mean  anything.  Kiss 
me.  Tell  me  you  won't  do  it  any  more— that  you  won't 
hurt  the  man  who  adores  you.  What  does  anjrthing  else 
matter?  You  and  I  are  everything  there  is  in  the  world. 
Don't  let  us  talk.    When  we've  got  each  other—" 

Rosie  gave  it  up,  for  the  present  at  any  rate.  She 
began  to  perceive  dimly  that  they  had  different  concep- 
tions of  love.  For  her,  love  was  engagement  and  mar- 
riage, with  the  material  concomitants  the  two  states 
implied.  But  for  Claude  love  was  something  else.  It 
was  something  she  didn't  understand,  except  that  it  was 
indifferent  to  the  orderly  procession  by  which  her  own 
ambitions  climbed.  He  loved  her;  of  that  she  was  sure. 
But  he  loved  her  for  her  face,  her  mouth,  her  eyes,  her  hair, 
the  color  of  her  skin,  her  roughened  little  hands,  her  hthe 
little  body.  Of  nothing  else  in  her  was  he  able  to  take 
cognizance.  Her  hard  life  and  her  heart-breaking  strug- 
gles were  conditions  he  hadn't  the  eyes  to  see.  He  was 
aware  of  them,  of  course,  but  he  could  detach  her  fipom 
them.  He  could  detach  her  from  them  for  the  minutes 
she  spent  with  him,  but  he  could  see  her  go  back  to  them 
and  make  no  attempt  to  follow  her  in  sympathy. 

But  he  loved  her  beauty.  There  was  that  palliating 
fact.  After  all,  Rosie  was  a  woman,  and  here  was  the 
supreme  tribute  to  her  womanhood.  It  was  not  every- 
thing, and  yet  it  was  the  thing  enchanting.  It  was  the 
kind  of  tribute  any  woman  in  the  world  would  have  put 
before  social  rescue  or  moral  elevation,  and  Rosie  was  like 
the  rest.  She  could  be  lulled  by  Claude's  endearments  as 
a  child  is  lulled  by  a  ciadle-song.    With  this  music  in  her 

B  57 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 


Hi 


CHAPTER  VIII 
r\RESSED  for  going  out,  Mrs.  WiUouirhbv  was  h„ttr^ 

.«?^  ^Tf'  ^  ^«^'*'  ^^  «^t  the  hips,  tapered  tow 

You  re  surely  not  going  in  that  mgl" 
There  U  be  loads  of  men  there-simply  loads^  n^„!l 

«U  your  advantages  and  doesn't  m4  more^o^i    4^ 

I^^t^  ^1*^*^*  ^  don't"^tt:Le^* 
••vT.^  ^'  "^t  ^«  '^  too  frank  for  conceatoents 

woKafter.    He  thmks  I  niay  be  able  to  help  her  " 
59 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

The  mother  subsided.  "Oh,  well— if  it's  that!"  She 
added,  so  as  not  to  seem  to  hint  too  much:  "I  always  like 
you  to  do  what  you  can  toward  uplift.  I'll  take  you  as 
far  as  the  Old  Village,  if  you're  going  that  way." 

There  had  been  a  time  when  such  concessigns  at  the 
mention  of  Thor  Masterman  would  have  irritated  Lois 
more  than  any  violence  of  opposition;  but  that  time  was 
passing.  She  could  hardly  complain  if  others  saw  what 
was  daily  becoming  more  patent  to  herself.  She  could 
complain  of  it  the  less  since  she  found  it  difficult  to 
conceal  her  happiness.  It  was  a  happiness  that  softened 
the  pangs  of  care  and  removed  to  a  distance  the  con- 
ditions incidental  to  her  father's  habits  and  impending 
financial  ruin. 

Nevertheless,  the  conditioas  were  there,  and  had  to  be 
confronted.    She  made,  in  fact,  a  timid  effort  to  confront 
them  as  she  sat  beside  her  mother  in  the  admirably  fitted 
limousine. 
"Mother,  what  are  we  going  to  do  about  papa?" 
Mrs.  Willoughby's  indignant  rising  to  the  occasion 
could  be  felt  like  an  dectric  wave.    "Do  about  him? 
Do  about  what?" 
"About  the  Tray  he  is." 

"The  way  he  is?    What  on  earth  are  you  tjiMni. 

about?"  '       ^^^ 

"I  mean  the  way  he  comes  home." 

"  He  comes  home  very  tired,  if  that's  what  you're  trying 

to  say.    Any  man  who  works  as  they  work  him  at  that 

office—" 

"  Do  you  think  it's  work?" 

"No,  I  don't  think  it's  work.  I  call  it  slavery.  It's 
enough  to  put  a  man  in  his  grave.  I've  seen  him  come 
home  so  that  he  could  hardly  speak;  and  if  you've  done 
the  same  you  may  know  that  he's  simply  tired  enough  to 
die." 

Lois  tried  to  come  indirectly  to  her  point  by  saying, 
"Thor  Mastennan  has  been  bringing  him  home  lately." 
60 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

C  bV'Si  ioT^  '^  "^  "^  *»•«-■»  ^  "y- 

Th^  Zr^.  *^1  ''^^  *°  "^y-  "Thor  seons  worried  " 
hir?^J^^*  '.  *'*^"«»  "^  «>»*  of  a  ruffled.  WM^ 

fa^W  iT^^'^^'^i^-    "KThor's  worried  ab<xry^ 
latner,  he  can  spare  himself  thn  fmt.ki.         »uuui  your 

These  discreet  aUusions,  too.  Lois  thought  it  best  to 

R^If /^^-    ^°  *=*™=  ^^°"s  about  mOTVy  " 
Bessie  tossed  her  head.    "That  may  eadh-  4     If 
your  father  takes  our  moni.vniit„f*u.c        casuy  oe.    l£ 

tr>  wJft    1^  ^^" 't,"ght  to  go  a  Step  further.     "  He  seemed 

lmn^»„,iS-      ^^'    "^^  °^*»"  '«t  either  of  the  bova 
^"^BTySTfSjLts'^^orSnST'*  ^"^  '" 

heSr^-''^  *^  *^«^  °^  *°«e'  Lois  began  to  take 
6t 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

J^^  Ir*"  ***  Pl«»»  him  had  never  before  th»  inrtant 
au«d  him  anything  but  satisfaction.    It  hadbeTb^t 

Wmd  to  the  goal  to  which  this  mutual  go^^  woSS 

5?^^^^-gi2r^rrriL.-Hr^^ 
s-a^u72re"cig^sf3^^ 

that  he  was  not  susceptible  to  fh^t  Z^  «"="^"^ 

««  long-standing  intention  to  marry  Lois  Waioi.ahK^ 

^  based  on  the  fact  that  besideT^XS&c  ^ 

toishewasplainandlonely.,  Ifthe^^S?SS 

powB  that  made  her  a  woman  of  distinction.         *~'"™» 

In  his  windng  there  was  the  sunmse  of  a  man  who  in  a 
6a 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

obliged  to  mpl|y^!^&«""°^  Hewa. 

^X^t^"^'  "f^T^^.  -^  the  plea  of 

complete  capitulation  on  thTwI    »        •     ."^  •»**" 
County  Str^t  to^.    t£  St  ^^^  ^'"Y^tftion  to 

»-^.  but  amuaing.  J'a  li^e  Sl"^  '^'^^  ^ 

lisSSthtS'bS'he'CiS}*  -/«f«^  ^^  could 
fhould  find  anytWng  £  W  mSS?^*  *!!**  ^'"^ 
itself  to  humor.  He  kn^^w  I  *  ^°^^  "^^  ^o* 
we«  ;ond  of  ind«g.g  ^it^  tiT^  ^t  '^^'^ 
fortunate.  Even  I^  ■traim.<r1,h?S  J^'^°^  *^  *>"»  '«« 
taint  of  dass.  Fea^gtoS^^h  °°*  "^P**  *^t 
word  he  made  zeal  in'h^S  oflSsT  r^^^^f* 
an  abrupt  good-by  ^  *"*  **cuse  for 

lcin^"L^t?Sr'an1tt^fr?«'*°?-'°^-ther 
«P  the  hill.  ^nC  hTtn^^  "^^'^^  ^«  h"^«*J 
psychological  t«at:^X4S^Fa^e,S^*?r«  *°^  *^« 
tolmow  W  the  poor  HL1"thS^Sl£°iSr^ 

beSrth^^isx^^^thn^*^?  '^  "-*«^ 

He  had  been  thinSm/^l  •  ^^""^  °^  *  friendship, 
concerti^to^ri^r  f^^'^r tly  that  it  was  dit 
thinking  'of  hiSr^IS.^Het^^^.  *«  "T  T'  ^ 
no  more.  She  cor.t;m,«^  *  ?  .  °°***  to  her,  and 
who  v^o^nTTZ^  ^  f^  ^**«^'''  the  It^T 
while  she  dltS^e25^yP^«d  azalea-plants 

Hermam,er^r5,?aSlL2i^1^.*'r°"''1^°'°ther. 

questions  brief  and  to  "heST"  "  '^^'^  *°  ^is 

But  professional  duty  bjg  done,  he  endeavomi  to 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

rai«e  the  personal  iarae.  "What  did  you  mean  yeMerday 
when  you  said  that  you  couldn't  play  fair,  but  that  you'd 
play  as  fair  as  you  oo<Ud?" 

She  turned  from  her  contemplation  of  the  stooping 
Antonio's  back.    "Did  I  say  that?" 

He  hardly  heeded  the  question  in  the  pleasure  he  got 
from  this  glimpse  of  her  green  eyes.  "  You  said  that— or 
something  very  much  like  it." 

His  uncertainty  gave  her  the  chance  to  correct  that 
which,  in  the  light  of  Claude's  warning,  might  prove  to 
have  been  an  indiscretion.  "I'm  sure  I  can't  imagine. 
You  must  Iiave — misunderstood  me." 

He  pursued  the  topic  not  because  he  cared,  but  in  order 
to  make  her  look  at  him  again.^  "Oh  no,  I  didn't.  Don't 
you  remember?  It  was  after  you  said  that  there  was  one 
thmg  that  might  happen—" 

She  was  sure  of  her  indiscretion  now.  He  might  even 
be  setting  a  snare  for  her.  Dr.  Sim  Masterman  might 
have  withdrawn  from  her  mother's  case  in  order  to  put 
the  one  brother  on  the  other's  tracks.  If  Claude  was  right 
m  his  suspicions,  there  was  reasonable  ground  for  alarm. 
She  said,  with  assumed  indifference:  "Oh,  thati  That 
was  nothing.    Just  a  fancy." 

He  still  talked  for  the  sake  of  talking,  attaching  no 
importance  to  her  repHes.  "Was  it  a  fancy  when  you 
said  that  I  would  be  one  of  the  people  opposed  to  it—if  it 
happened?" 

"Well,  yes.    But  you'd  only  be  one  among  a  lot." 
She  shifted  to  firmer  ground.    "  I  wasn't  thinking  of  you 
in  particulai>-or  of  any  one  in  particular." 
"Were  you  thinking  of  any  thing  in  particular?" 
The  question  threw  her  back  on  straight  denial.  "N-no- 
not  exactly;  just  a  fancy."  ' 

"But  I  shouldn't  be  opposed  to  it,  whatever  it  is— if  it 
was  to  your  advantage." 

His  persistence  deepened  her  distrust.    A  man  whom 
she  had  seen  only  once  before  would  hardly  display  such 
64 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

•a  'nt«wgt  in  her  and  her  affairs  unlm  he  had  a  motive. 
espeoaUy  when  that  man  was  a  Mastennan.  She  took 
rsfuge  m  i^  task  with  the  azaleas.  "No.  not  there. 
Antomo.  Put  them  there-like  thi*-ru  show  you  ^^^ 
The  necessity  for  giving  Antonio  practical  demonstra- 
bon  tokmg  her  to  the  other  side  of  the  hothouse.  Thar  felt 
hunsetfobhgedtogo.    He  went  with  the  greater  ««*t 

of  IxMS  Willoughby's  advances,  though  her  skill  in  eludine 
lum  heightened  his  respect.  His  disdain  for  the  smaU 
arts  of  coquetry  being  as  sin.  ire  as  his  scorn  of  snobbery 
he  counted  It  to  her  credit  that  she  eluded  him  at  aU 
There  would  be  plenty  of  opportunities  for  speech  with 
ner.    Dunng  them  he  hoped  to  win  her  confidence  by 

In  the  bedroom  up-stairs,  where  the  mother  was  again 
seated  m  her  upholstered  arm-chair  with  the  quUt  ^oss 
her  knew,  he  endeavored  to  put  into  practice  his  idea  of 
mental  therapeutics.  He  began  by  speaking  of  Matt 
Mang  the  tenns  that  would  most  effectively  chaUenxe  he^ 
atteition.  "Wha.  he  comes  back,  you  faiow.  we  murt 
m^  ban  forget  that  he's  ever  worn  stripes." 

t,^^'^  ^  '^'^'y-    '"*">**  'd  be  thf.  good  of  his 
foTj^tbngit?    He'U  have  done  it.  just  the  same  •• 
_  Some  of  us  have  done  worse  than  that,  and  yet—" 
And  yet  we  didn't  get  into  Colcord  for  them.    But 
ttats  what  counts.    You  can  do  what  you  like  as  long  as 
you  ain't  put  m  jail.    Look  at  your  father— " 

So  when  he  comes  home—"  he  interrupted,  craftily. 
..«i:l  .f^J""^"*^'  t'>«>wing  the  quilt  ten  her  knees, 
aee  nere,  she  asked,  confidentiaUy. "  how  would  you  feet 
U  you  saw  your  son  coming  up  out  of  heU?" 
«„  -J?"  ^"f^.  I  f««l  ?  I  should  be  glad  he  was  coming 
up  instead  of  gomg  down.  You  would,  too.  wouldn't  you  ? 
/^d  now  that  he's  coming  up  we  must  keep  him  up. 
Thatsthe  point.  So  many  poor  chaps  that  have  been  ki 
his  position  fed.that  because  they've  once  been  down 
6$ 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

ttey've  got  to  tUy  down.  Wo  mutt  make  him  m 
th*t  het  oame  buck  among  frienda— and  you  must 
teU  ua  wlut  to  do.  You  muit  give  your  mind  to  it 
and  ttank  it  out.  He'a  your  boy-w  ifi  your  duty  to 
take  the  lead."  ' 

Her  ooid  eye  rerted  on  Wm  as  if  the  were  giving  hi* 
wonla  cooHderation.  "Why  don't  you  a«k  your  father  to 
take  the  lead?    He  sent  him  to  Colcotd." 

That  got  no  further  than  thia  during  the  hour  he  tpent 
with  her.  aeeing  thAt  Uncle  Sim  had  been  right  in  detaih- 
i^  the  caie  as  one  for  ingenuity— and  something  more. 
Questiomng  himself  as  to  what  this  something  more  could 
be,  he  brought  up  the  subject  tentatively  with  Jasper 
F«y,  whom  he  met  on  leaving  the  house.  Thor  himself 
stood  on  the  door-step,  while 'Fay,  who  wore  gardening 
overalls,  confronted  him  from  the  withered  gnss-plot 
that  ended  in  a  leafless  hedge  of  bridal-veil. 
"She's  never  been  a  religious  woman  at  all,  has  she?" 
Pay  answered  with  a  distant  smile.  "She  did  go  in 
for  Ttkpoa  at  one  time,  sir;  but  I  guess  she  found  it  slim 
diet.  It  got  to  seem  to  her  like  Thomas  Carlyle's  hunery 
hon  mvited  to  a  feast  of  chickenweed.  After  that  she 
qmt." 

"I  had  an  idea  that  you  belonged  to  the  Pint  Church 
and  were  Dr.  Hilary's  parishioners." 

Pay«plained.  "  Dr.  Hilary  married  us,  but  we  haven't 
troubled  the  church  much  since.  I  never  took  any  in- 
terest in  the  Christian  reKgion  to  befpn  with;  and  when 
I  looked  mto  it  I  found  it  even  more  fallacious  than  I 
suppoMd."  To  account  for  this  advanced  position  on  the 
part  of  a  simple  market-gardener  he  added.  "  I've  been  a 
good  deal  of  a  reader." 

Thor  spoke  slowly  and  after  meditation.  "It  isn't  so 
much  a  question  of  its  being  fallacious  as  of  its  capacity 
for  producing  results." 

Fay  turned  partiaUy  round  toward  the  south,  where  a 
haze  hung  above  the  city.    His  tone  was  infused  with  a 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

mild  UttemeH.    "Don't  w«  mw  the  results  it  can  pn>. 
dues-over  there?"  *^ 

J*J^^'l!^^^Jl.*°!'"  .■"** '~  *»  «"«*  «  tympathy 
with  this  point  of  view  th»t  he  haitUy  knew  how  to  go  on. 

And  yet  some  of  us  docton  are  beg^ming  to  suspect  that 
th«e  may  be  a  power  in  Christianity— «  -  .  Ay  psycho- 
logical  power,  you  understand— that  harn  i  «u  usH  for 
what  it's  worth." 

Fay  nodded.  He  had  been  foUow";  •  r'  ;.  ,,  t.-i  ->f 
contemporary  thought.  "Yes,  Dr  iho-.  '>,  i  ]  e^ir 
Just  as,  I  dare  say,  you  haven't  fouaJ  om  ill  il,p  tis^  f 
opjum." 

"Well,  opium  is  good  in  its  place,  \ov  k  i.n   ' 
'I  suppose  so."    He  lifted  his  stany  .     s    ,ith  their 
mysfac,  visionary  rapture  fully  on  the  >  Mir.  -  phy.i.at: 

And  yet  I  remember  how  George  Eliot  pr  ,  :  ';at  w'-un 
her  troubles  came  she  might  get  along  wthout  bring 
drugged  by  that  stuflE-meaning  the  Christian  religion! 
«i--and  I  guess  I'd  kind  o'  like  that  me  and  mine  should 
do  the  same." 

^lor  dropped  the  subject  and  went  his  way.  As  far 
as  he  had  opinions  of  his  own,  they  would  have  been 
imailM  to  Fay's  had  he  not  within  a  year  or  two  heard 
^  a^aenUy  authenticated  cases  in  which  sick  spirits  or 
dwwdered  nerves  had  yielded  to  spiritual  counsels  after 
the  doctor  had  had  no  success.  He  had  been  so  little  im- 
pressed with  these  instances  that  he  might  not  have  al- 
lowed his  speculations  with  regard  to  Mrs.  Pay  to  go 
beyond  the  fleeting  thought,  only  for  the  fact  that  on 
passmg  through  the  Square  he  met  Reuben  Hilary.  In 
general  he  was  content  to  touch  his  hat  to  the  old  gentie- 
man  and  go  on;  but  tonlay,  urged  by  an  impulse  too 
vague  to  take  accurate  account  of,  he  stopped  with  re- 
spectful greetings. 

"I've  just  been  to  see  an  old  parishioner  of  yours,  ar," 
he  said,  when  the  preliminaries  of  neighboriy  conversation 
had  received  their  due. 

67 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 


I 

I 


Have  you,  now? 


delivered  with 


the 


—  non-committal 
North-of-Ireland  intonation. 


.  •i?;.^^""'^*  <rf  Pay,  the  gardener.    I 


response, 

she's  iU."  Thor  w^t  '^^tl^l^'^^i^t  ^'^ 
t^y  upset."  He  d^dcT^pi^^^'i^^^^t™- 
bddly,  amUmg  w.th  that  minglir^s  of  frankness  and  ^ 
plenty  which  people  found  appealing  because  of  its  ^- 
scientiouaiess.  "And  I've  been  wo^derinri^  ^ 
if  you  couldn't  help  her."  "uary. 

miSdr?"^'  "^^    ^""^  **"*  would  you  be  ranting 

Thoi  reflected  as  to  the  exact  line  to  take,  while  the 

fc«dty  eyes  covered  hm  with  their  shrewd,  hum^ 

twinkle.     'You  see,"  Thor  tried  to  explain  "that  if  d« 

t^Jf  *  K^  'It  '*?*  "^'^  -y  oKtaad  to  t^: 
tow^  trouble  than  that  of  Widdng  against  it,  she  might 

^Z  ^  ""^^^  ?*  ^^^-  A*  P«««»t  she's  likl  a 
pnson«-  who  dashes  his  head  against  a  stone  waU,  not 
s«mg  that  there's  a  window  by  which  he  might  make  his 

CSCapC. 

5fI^*^-'^*'^*''^°'^8^t'«'n«Tyeyes.  'Out 
If  there  s  a  window  why  don't  you  point  it  out  to  her?" 

•^?  ^T^L,?"^"^'  ^'  ^  ^'^  "*«  it  »y^-" 

ifsw"     ^^*y°"' *•»«»?    And  how  do  you  know 

T H^^.^*^^  *?«*'•  "To  be  frank  with  you,  sir. 
Idon^tbeheveitMthere.    Butif youcanmakeherbeiiev^ 

*'TJat  is,  you  want  me  to  deceive  the  poor  creature." 
^S    u'T'    Thor  protested.    "You  wouldn't  be  de- 
ceiving her  because  you  do  believe  it  " 

I'mtSeLJmS,!"  "^"^^  »>-  to  the  extent  that 

JZTt'"^  *°°  °^^  ^"^  '^•"  Thor  laughed  again,  pre- 
PMmgtomoveon.    "I  didn't  know  but  that  ifyouw^ 
to  what  are  called  the  consolations  of  ndigioi-tSt's 
toe  right  phrase,  isn't  it—" 
M 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

^Z^^*I!J*V?"**-  But  you  can't  pt»  people  the 
c«osolations  of  rehgion;  they've  got  to  fcid^^for 
themselves.  If  they  won't  do  that,  there's  no  iZJZ 
heawn  or  earth  that  can  force  consolation  upon  them." 
But  rehgion  undertakes  to  do  something,  doesn't  it?" 
The  old  man  shook  his  head.  "Nothing  whatever-no 
more  than  an-  undertakes  that  you  shall  breathe  it,  or 

Cei?:!  rb^"*^ '*•  «*  ^  *^*  ^- «^ -^ 

Thor  mused.    When  he  spoke  it  was  as  if  summing  up 

t  f^^^nS;  Pa^"""* ''-  «"■*  ^^^^• 

"Very  weU,  sir.    Will  you  try  that?" 

to'I^  /.'"  ^  '•:  •  ^'!"  *~  P^**  of  the  Word  of  God 
tf  v^  r  T^  **  "f }  wanted-marganto  ante  forces, 
rf  you  ve  Latm  enough  for  that-but  when  any  oneask^ 
for  It  as  earnestly  as  you,  me  dear  Thoi--" 

wl^ r°,''^u>*'  '^^'  ^*»"  ^«*  tlie  old  man's 
W  and  thanked  Wm.  after  which  he  humed  off  to  the 
^ge  to  take  out  his  runabout  and  brin£  Lois's  father 
Home  from  towa. 


CHAPTER  IX 

AS  November  and  December  passed  and  the  new  year 
|r\  came  m,  smaU  happenings  began  to  remind  Thorley 
Masterman  that  he  was  soon  to  inherit  money.  It  was  a 
fact  which  he  himself  could  scarcely  credit.  Perhaps 
b«ause  he  was  not  imaginative  the  condition  of  being 
thirty  years  of  age  continued  to  seem  remote  even  when  he 
was  wjthm  six  weeks  of  that  goal. 

He  was  first  impressed  with  the  rapidity  of  his  approach 
to  It  on  a  morning  when  he  came  late  to  breakfast  finding 
at  his  plate  a  long  envelope,  bearing  in  its  upper  left-hand 
comer  the  request  that  in  the  event  of  non-deHvery  it 
should  be  returned  to  the  omce  of  Darling  &  Darling  at 
a;.  Commonwealth  Row.  A  glance,  which  he  couldn't 
help  reading,  passed  round  the  table  as  he  took  it  up 
It  was  not  new  to  him  that  among  the  other  members  of 
the  household,  closely  as  they  were  united,  there  was  a 
sense  of  vague  injustice  because  he  was  coming  into 
money  and  they  were  not. 

The  communication  was  brief,  stating  no  more  than  the 
fact  that  m  view  of  the  transfer  of  the  estate  which  would 
take  place  a  few  weeks  later,  Mr.  William  Darling,  the 
sole  toistee,  would  be  glad  to  see  the  heir  on  a  day  in  the 
n^  future,  to  submit  to  him  the  list  of  investments  and 
oUier  properties  that  were  to  make  up  his  inheritance. 
Thor  saw  his  grandfather's  money,  so  long  a  fairy  pros- 
pect, as  likely  to  become  a  matter  of  solid  cash.  The 
change  in  his  position  would  be  considerable. 

As  yet,  however,  his  position  remained  that  of  a  son 
m  his  father's  family,  and,  in  obedience  to  what  he  knew 
70 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 


was  expected  of  him,  he  read  the  note  aloud 


there  was  an  absence  of  comment,  his 


Though 
stepmother, 


pwm^  him  his  coflfee,  munnured,  caressingly,  "Dear 

"Dear  old Thor,"  Claude  mimicked,  "will  soon  be  able 
to  do  everything  he  pleases." 

Mrs.  Masterman  smiled.  It  was  her  mission  to  con- 
ciliate.   "And  what  will  that  be?" 

"T*^  ^^  ^^^  '*  ''°°'*  **•"  ^^"<le  said,  scornfully. 
It  won  t  be  anything  that  has  to  do  with  a  pretty  girl  " 
Thor  flushed.  It  was  one  of  the  minutes  at  whidi 
Oaude  s  taunts  gave  him  aU  he  could  do  to  contain  him- 
sdf.  As  far  as  his  younger  brother  was  concerned,  he 
meaitweUbyhim.  It  had  always  been  his  intention  that 
his  first  use  of  Grandpa  Thorley's  money  should  be  in  sup- 
plementmg  Claude's  meager  personal  resources  and  help- 
mg  him  to  keep  on  his  feet.  He  could  be  patient  with 
him  too-patient  under  all  sorts  of  stinging  gibes  and 
double.«dged  compliments— patient  for  weeks,  for  months 
--patient  right  up  to  the  minute  when  something  touched 
him  too  keenly  on  the  quick,  and  his  wrath  broke  out  with 
a  fury  he  knew  to  be  dangerous.  It  was  so  dangerous  as 
to  make  him  afraid— afraid  for  Claude,  and  more  afraid 
for  himself.  There  had  been  youthful  quarrels  between 
them  from  which  he  had  come  away  pale  with  tenor, 
not  at  what  he  had  done,  but  at  what  he  might  have  done 
had  he  not  maintained  some  measure  of  self-control. 

The  memory  of  such  occasions  kept  him  quiet  now 
ftough  the  irony  of  Claude's  speech  cut  so  much  deeper 
Oian  any  one  could  suspect.  "Won't  be  anything  that 
has  to  do  with  a  pretty  girl!"  Oood  God!  When  he  was 
b^inmng  to  feel  his  soul  rent  in  the  struggle  between  love 
and  honor!  It  was  like  something  sprung  on  him— that 
had  caught  him  unawares.  There  were  days  when  the 
suffermg  was  so  keen  that  he  wondered  if  there  was  no 
way  oi  lawfully  giving  in.  After  aU,  he  had  never  asked 
Lois  Willoughby  to  marry  him.  Thei«  had  never  been 
71 


■M 

•:i| 


I    \ 


a 


,i"j 


THE   SIDE  OF   THE  ANGELS 

more  between  them  than  an  unspoken  intention  in  hii 
mind  which  had  somehow  communicated  itself  to  hen. 
But  that  was  not  a  pledge.  If  he  were  to  many  some 
one  dse,  she  couldn't  reproach  him  by  so  much  as  a 
syuatde. 

It  was  not  often  that  he  was  tempted  to  reason  thus, 
but  Claudes  sarcasm  brought  up  the  question  mor^ 
squarely  than  it  had  ever  raised  itself  before.  It  was 
«acUy  the  sort  of  subject  on  which,  had  it  concerned  any 
?^*'  I^  ^^f^  ^"^  *^«^  ^"^  ^^i  to  Lois  he.^. 
r^^^Ti^S^  ^  ^**  *'°^^'  ^^  f«lt  strangely  at 
aloss.  WMe  he  said  to  himself  that  after  all  these  TOars 
th«ie  was  but  one  thing  for  him  to  do,  he  was  cmi<^ 
to  the  view  other  people  might  take  of  such  a  situation. 
It  was  bemuse  of  this  need,  and  with  Claude's  sneer 
nngmg  m  hw  heart,  that  la^  in  the  day  he  sprang  the 
qurationonD^love.  Dearlove  was  the  derelict  English 
butler  whom  T^.-^  had  picked  out  of  the  gutter  and  put  in 
^e  of  his  office  so  that  he  might  have  another  chance. 

«lton  the  subsidence  m  the  contents  of  a  bottle  of  cognac 

^^^y^^  *'  ^  °®'*  ^°^  emergency  cases  a^^ 
neglected  to  put  under  lock  and  key. 

'■That  was  a  full  bottle  a  month  ago,"  Thor  declared. 

hedj^g  the  accusmg  object  up  to  the  light. 

Was  It,  sir?"  Dearlove  asked,  dismally.    He  stood 

m  hts  habitual  attitude,  his  anns  crossed  on  his  stomach 

his  hands  thrust,  monldike,  into  his  sleeves. 

'And  I've  only  taken  one  glass  out  of  it-^the  day  that 

young  feUowfeU  off  his  bicycle."  "»/ toai 

De^love  eyed  the  bottle  piteously.    '"Aven't  you. 

^?    Perhaps  you  took  more  out  that  day  than  yoJ 

But  Thor  broke  in  with  what  was  leaUy  on  his  mind 
Look  here,  Dearlove!    What  would  you  say  to  a  man  who 
wasm  love  with  one  woman  if  he  married  another?" 
Deariove  was  so  astonished  as  to  be  for  a  minute  at  a 

72 


(<^i/'!£<M^^il, 


W^ 


^:i-^j^!^mmmMmm 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

loss  for  speech.    "What  'd  I  say  to  him,  sir?    I'd  sav 
what  did  he  do  it  for?    If  it  was—" 

"Yes,  Dearlove?"  Thor  encouraged.  "If  it  was  for— 
what? 

"Well,  sir,  if  he'd  got  money  with  her,  like-^welL 
that  'd  be  one  thing." 

"But  if  he  didn't?  If  it  was  a  case  in  which  money 
didn't  matter?"  ^^ 

Dearlove  shook  his  head.  "I  never  'eard  of  no  such 
case  as  that,  sir." 

Thor  grew  interested  in  the  sheerly  human  aspects  of 
thenibject.  Romance  was  so  novel  to  him  that  he  won- 
dered if  every  one  came  under  its  speU  at  some  time— 
If  there  was  no  exception,  not  even  Dearlove.  He  leaned 
across  the  desk,  his  hands  clasped  upon  it. 

''Now,  Dearlove,  suppose  it  was  your  own  case,  and—" 

Oh,  me,  sir!    I'm  no  example  to  no  one— not  with 

Bnghtstone  'anging  on  to  me  the  way  she  does.    I  can't 

kxjk  friendly  at  so  much  as  a  kitten  without  Brieht- 

stone — "  * 

"  Now  here's  the  situation,  Dearlove,"  Thor  interrupted, 
while  the  ex-butler  listened,  his  head  judicially  inclined  to 
one  side:  "Suppose  a  man— a  patient  of  mine,  let  us  say- 
meant  to  many  one  young  lady,  and  let  her  see  it.  And 
suppose,  later,  he  fell  very  much  in  love  with  another 
young  lady — " 

"He'd  'ave  to  ease  the  first  one  off  a  bit,  wouldn't  he 
sir?" 

"You  think  he  ought  to." 

"I  think  he'd  'ave  to,  sir,  unless  he  wanted  to  be  sued 
for  breach." 

.','^*.'*,*^®  iwestion  of  duty  I'm  thinking  of,  Dearlove." 
"Ain't  it  his  dooty  to  marry  the  one  he's  in  love  with, 
sir  ?  Doesn't  the  Good  Book  say  as  'ow  fallin'  in  love  "— 
Dearlove  blushed  becomingl/— "as  'ow  fallin'  in  love  is 
the  way  God  A'mighty  means  to  fertffize  the  earth  with 
people?  Doesn't  the  Good  Book  say  that,  sir?" 
•  73 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

saS&iLIrt  tie't'^'  ''"  ""  "^^  "^  '-^*'- 
^hl'^-,?**  *°T'*  that  to  be  thottght  of,  sir.    They  nv 

He  added,  as  he  shuffled  toward  the  door.  "We  neverW 

that  died  a  few  hours  after  it  was  bom  " 
Thor  was  not  convinced  by  this  reasoning,  but  he  was 

^^^'^u^T:  S«<=h^-7ressionsofo^.S 
would  probably  be  indorsee  by  nine  peoplVout  o7 tS^ 

I  f7^'Ti''^*''«'»'8ht  follow  the  ^goThishS 

1'^  and  yet  not  be  a  dastard.  s    s  «*  ma  uearc 

'  wi^lV^^  °°  ^"^"^  ^^°^^-  «i"«fore.  when  he  talked 

«  '^*^,^f;^o°e  afternoon  in  the,weekfoUowing.     "Supple 

.j  myfatter  doesn't  renew  the  lease-what  ^uld^SS^ 

1  hi?n/^"°^'™°'*^*'^°^'^'^g«»'ethiagtoa 

■n,  head  of  lettuce  which  was  unfolding  its  petals  likeaWt 

„i  f^';S^    His  eyes  had  the  visic^^kth^mSS 

»'  ..  his  umbUity  to  come  down  to  the^cal.    "WdT^ 

I  don't  rightly  know."  «-"«u.       weu,  sir, 

'■But  you've  thought  of  it,  haven't  you?" 

twn^*..*^^  *?^''*  '^  '*•    ««'"  «id  he  wouldnt 

fi„».*f       ,    •   °/°"  "»y  good  if  he  did?    Aren't  you 
fighting  a  losmg  battle,  anyhow?"  ^^ 

tJ^^^f^^-  ^?^  '*°'^  *''''  '"^J  °f  «>"  verdure 
to  tne  aid  of  the  greenhouse  in  which  they  stood     "I 

can  see  how  that  might  be  in  one  way,  but-" 

It  s  the  way  I  mostly  think  of,  sir.    Every  man  has 

his  o^  habit  of  mind,  hasn't  he?    I  agree  wi^  S^ 

prophet  Thomas  Carlyle  when  he  saj^-he  broSf^t 

74 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

I*lt^  "1^  ",  "^^  P«nPo«ity-"when  he  say.  that 
l^^  «*rt'culate  selfK^MTiousness  dwells  inTwW^ 
oiUy  our  works  can  render  articulate.  He  spwfa  rf  th. 
•WwwT^*  'Know  thyself-  till  ;:Ct^e1t 

mS^^^  !!!"^-  **  ^^'''"8  «^-  I J"'"^  that 
aal^both  ends  meet  «  an  important  part  of  it^^f 

"But  to  you  it  isn't  the  mcst  important  part  of  it  " 

" A«:,  •/      T^'^*-    Its  myself.    And  if-" 
••^i  TTn\*?  '^°^'*  "^"^  the  l«se-?" 
«.^*   •     i^^'^'^°"^^°'"-    It  won't  be  just  Boine  bank 

blasted."    He  subjoined,  dreamily  "I  dZJt^L^Ti 

would  happen  to  me  aft;rl^'i-.d  iSd  S^^^ 

committing  crimes."  ^^"^  to 

Thor  couldn't  remember  evw  havine  seen  tears  on  »„ 

ttS^^Mr^t'^-    HetooL^^^XThS 

the  loigth  of  the  greenhouse  and  back  again.    "W 

here,  Pay,"  he  said,  in  the  tone  of  one  makinfaresolj^n 

™^"ffl^  would  give  «,  a  lease  It^S' 

"Yes^e.    Would  you  work  it  for  me?" 

^7'^u'^"^  long  while  Thor  watched  the  play  of  lieht 

«nd  shadow  over  the  mild,  mobile  face,    "ft  wouiTt 

be  my  own  place  any  mo«,  would  it,^"  ^^  * 

K.  f  ^        "f^J^ !'.  ''°^dn't-not  strictly.    But  it  would 

"  U  ""^l^  t^^-    It  would  be  be4r  th^-"      ** 

sJ^7^.r     <^  than  being  turned  out."    He  re- 

^S^^r  ^-y-«-^«°^takingitoverasan 

fo/!^*ir"f  '^''^^^^  this  side  of  his  idea,  Thor  sought 
for  a  natural,  spontaneous  answer,  and  wa^  noTC^ 
7S  ^ 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

finding  one.    "I  want  to  be  identified  with  the  village 
industrieo,  because  I'm  going  into  politics." 

"Oh,  arc  yen,  sir?  I  didn't  know  you  was  that  way 
inclined." 

"  I'm  not,"  Thor  explained,  when  they  had  moved  £ram 
the  greenhouse  into  the  yard.  "I  only  feel  that  we 
people  of  the  old  stock  7iang  out  of  politics  too  much  and 
that  I  ought  to  pitch  in  and  make  one  more.  So  you 
get  my  idea,  Fay.  It  'i  ive  me  standing  to  hold  a  bit 
of  pr(^)erty  like  this,  t .    :  j  it's  only  on  lease." 

Thae  was  no  need  i  v  further  explanations.  Fay  con- 
sented, not  cheerfully,  out  with  a  certain  saddened  and  yet 
grateful  resignation,  of  which  the  expression  was  cut  short 
by  a  cheery,  ringing  voice  from  the  gateway: 

"HeUo,  Mr.  Fay!  HeUb,  Dr.  Thor!  Whoa.  Maud, 
whoa!  Stand,  will  you?  What  you  thinking  of?" 
_  The  response  to  this  greeting  came  from  both  men 
simultaneously,  each  making  it  according  to  his  capacity 
for  heartiness.  "Hello,  Jim!"  They  emphasized  the 
welcome  by  unconsciously  advancing  to  meet  the  tall, 
stalwart  young  Irishman  of  the  third  generation  on 
American  soil  who  came  toward  them  with  the  long,  loose 
limbs  and  swinging  stride  inherited  from  an  ancestry  bred 
to  tramping  the  hills  of  Connemara.  A  pair  of  twinkling 
eyes  and  a  mouth  that  was  always  on  the  point  of  breaking 
into  a  smile  when  it  was  not  actually  smiling  tempered  the 
peasant  shrewdness  of  a  face  that  got  further  softening, 
and  a  touch  of  superiority,  from  a  carefully  tended  young 
mustache. 

Thor  and  Jim  Breen  had  been  on  friendly  terms  ever 
since  they  were  boys;  but  the  case  was  not  exceptional, 
since  the  latter  was  on  similar  terms  with  every  one  in  the 
village.  From  childhood  upward  he  had  been  a  local 
character,  chiefly  because  of  a  breezy  self-respect  that 
was  as  free  from  self-consciousness  as  from  self-importance. 
There  was  no  one  to  whom  he  wasn't  polite,  but  there 
had  never  been  any  one  of  whom  he  was  afraid.  "Hdlo, 
76 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

^^If^'^^^iyr"^:^^^^'    "H^no. Father 
wyani       otOo  Dr.  Sanl"  had  been  hii  fomi  rd  on^t 

^•Twifte^  "^  ir-  '-'^^^^^ 

jUage.  with  headup  and  face  alert,  at  the  age  of  five. 

li^nJT'  ^  ^^'^  ««ndline«  was  a  prinuay  fastinct. 
«wer  wthout  speaking  or  nodding  to  every  one  he 

«u^  on.  or  c^ling  up,  every  one  he  could  datm  as  an 
•^uamtance  He  .as  always  on  hand  forfiL  f" 
SS.«  7  ^r  '"^'  '"  ^"^^  ^  accidents.  febX 

theatacals  and  dances.  There  were  rumors  that  hewis 
WBebmee  "wJd  "  but  the  wildness  being  corZed  to  to 
Wjcrns  mto  the  dty-^hich  gener^yW  pl^IfS 
d«t-it  was  not  sufficiently  in  evidence  to  shock  the 
^e«>^«nity.  It  was  a  matter  of  c«mnon  Se£ 
_?L  1^^'  "".^Se  Ph™*.  "to  go  with"  Rode  Pay 

fa^^^^^^-'°'^«^°°-  AsThorhadbe^nabs^t 
^^  f,^  thw  episode,  and  was  without  the  native 
w^on  that  wou^d  have  connected  the  two  narn^ 
He  took  Jmj's  arrival  pleasantly  '«-"«, 

Ha^  finished  his  bit  of  business,  which  concerned  an 
^J?i  «^««s  too  large  for  his  father  to  meet,  and  to 
7it^^^-^^^'^*  find  it  to  h«  advantage  ^^Q^, 
^^tr^K*'^'^^-  "Hear^uttheto^ 
^^^?  ^'n*^*  °^  ^5^  T*y'°^  "^d  about  t^ 
M  Z^I  7^^°  y°«  think  of  that  for  nerve? 
^2^^  what,  there's  some  things  in  this  town  needs 

The  statement  bringing  out  Thor's  own  intention  to 
™n^  «nd.date  for  office  at  the  nert  electicm   Ji^ 
«Pt«8ed  his  mterest  m  the  vernacular  of  the  hour 
77 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

"What  do  you  knoir  about  th*t?"  Further  diwuMfam  of 
politics  ending  in  Jim's  pledging  his  support  to  hU  boy. 
hoods  friend.  Thor  shook  hands  with  an  enooonging 
sense  of  being  embarked  on  a  public  career,  and  want 
forward  to  visit  his  patient  in  the  house. 

His  steps  were  arrested,  however,  by  heating  Jim  say 
M???*?  '*''*"'*''**'°^  "^*«'«  anywheiea  about! 

The  old  man  having  nodded  in  the  direction  of  the  hot- 
houae,  Jim  advanced  ahnost  to  the  door,  where  Thor,  on 
looking  over  his  shoulder,  saw  him  pause. 

It  was  a  curious  pause  for  one  so  self<onfident  as  the 
young  Irishman— a  pause  like  that  of  a  man  grown  sud- 
denly  doubtful,  timid,  distrustful.  His  hand  was  actuaUy 
on  the  latch  when,  to  Thor>  surprise,  he  wheeled  away 
returning  to  his  "team"  with  head  bent  and  stride  slack- 
ened thoughtfully.  By  the  time  he  had  mounted  the 
wagon,  however,  and  begun  to  tug  at  Maud  he  waa 
whistling  the  popular  air  of  the  moment  with  no  more 
than  a  subdued  note  in  his  gaiety. 


CHAPTER  X 

B^.i?^  T  Pi!?*^  "^^  *^^  '<*<»  «»t  »>S«  father 
fart  make  it  worth  his  whfle  not  to  do  so.  RodePav 
groiuul  teneath  their  feet,  and  go  oo  workine  ai^d  if  3 
mur^o.^*  satisfaction  to  him  to  accomplish  ^ 

W»  fL^'  *^* "?  ^  Kitting  his  rewanl  when,  after 
Jms  departure.  Rosie  nodded  through  the  glass  of^ 
tottouse^  pvinghim  what  might  ah^ost  beT^  for  2 
amile.  He  forbore  to  go  to  her  at  once,  keeping  that 
iJeasure  for  the  end  of  his  visit.    After  sedngKti^ 

w.^'^^'^^  "^  "'^'^  *°  giveaTd^ghte 
Sklt^?^'^  pretexts  for  lingering  in  her  com^y^ 

5K^\«Tr*^  '^'*^'  "°'  *^8h  ministiS 
bv  R™^  but  through  some  mysterious  influence  exerted 
by  Reuben  HJary     As  a  man  of  science  and  a  skeptic. 

S^Td'-ffierr-'  °'  "^  "'•  --  ^^  ^^ 

in  ^h-T  '^J^^  «P  the  Stairs  on  his  way  to  the  bednxan 

^^^;k^         "*  ''^  ^y"«'  '^th  that  inflection  in 
which  thoie  was  no  more  than  a  hint  of  the  brogue- 
was  hSL-?!.'J!^*  ''\''""  i^"8  °f  the  last  time  I 

T?.w    fi;    ;     ^^^  "^  ^^:    believe  also  in  me.' 

There  s  the  two  great  plagues  of  human  eristence-^ear 

79 


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MICROCOPY   RESOLUTION   TEST   CHART 

(ANSI  ond  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


I  2.8 
116 


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^^  (716)   288  -  5989  -  Fon 


THE    SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

and  trouble— staggered  for  you  at  a  blow.    And  you  do 
believe  in  God,  now,  don't  you?" 

Thor  had  turned  to  tiptoe  down  again  when  he  heard 
the  words,  spoken  in  the  rebellious  tones  with  which  he 
was  familiar,  modulated  now  to  an  odd  submissiveness: 
"I  don't  know  whether  I  do  or  not.  Isn't  there  some^ 
thing  in  the  Bible  about,  'Lord,  I  believe,  help  thou  mine 
unbelief?" 
"There  is,  and  it's  a  good  way  to  begin." 
Thor  was  out  in  the  yard  before  he  could  hear  more. 
Standing  for  a  minute  in  the  windy  sunshine,  he  wondered 
at  the  curious  phenomenon  presented  by  men  in  evident 
possession  of  their  faculties  who  relied  for  the  dispersion 
of  human  care  on  means  invisible  and  mystic.  The  fact 
that  in  this  case  he  himself  had  appealed  to  the  illusion 
rendered  the  working  of  it  none  the  less  astonishing.  His 
own  method  for  the  dispersion  of  human  care— and  the 
project  was  dear  to  him— was  by  dollars  and  cents.  It 
was,  moreover,  a  method  as  to  which  there  was  no  trouble 
in  proving  the  efficiency. 

He  took  up  the  subject  of  her  mother  with  Rosie,  who, 
with  the  help  of  Antonio,  was  rearranging  the  masses  of 
azaleas,  carnations,  and  poinsettias  after  the  depletion  of 
the  Christmas  sales.     "She's  really  better,  isn't  she?" 

Rosie  pushed  a  white  azalea  to  the  place  on  the  stand 
that  would  best  display  its  domelike  regularity.     "She 
seems  to  be." 
"What  do  you  think  has  helped  her?" 
She  gave  him  a  queer  Uttle  sidelong  smile.    "You're 
the  doctor.    I  should  think  you'd  know." 

He  adored  those  smiles— constrained,  unwilling,  dis- 
trustful smiles  that  varied  the  occasional  earnest  looks 
that  he  got  from  her  green  eyes.  "  But  I  don't  know.  It 
isn't  anjrthing  I  do  for  her." 

She  banked  two  or  three  azaleas  together,  so  that  their 
shades  of  pink  and  pomegranate-red  might  blend.  "I  sun- 
pose  it's  Dr.  Hilary." 

80 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

Suspecting  aU  his  approaches,  she  confined  herself  to 
saying,  'Tm  sure  I  don't  know  "  soeaW  i;i,„  o       u 
witness  under  cross-examiTtton.    n^Mt.  S^^ 
t'afk  V't\^T'-^^  ^*^  -'^'^  he  tri:rtt"S;ire  U^ 

Syi'^S^r,^r^^  - '-  ^^  ^^^-  ^ 

it  ^h^Z^'^  ^^^  '^"^^  ""^  ^  ^'^^  chaim.    He  called 
g^rl  m  her  situation  would  have  come  haU-wav  at°^ 

re^  to  take  hun  into  account.  She  made  him  feel 
^e  a  n^  si^ahng  m  the  dark  or  speaking  acro^  a 
^um  through  which  his  voice  couldn^S  She 

at  makmg  the  attempts  to  do  either. 

runaL'lif  f^l^  ^'^'^  ^P'^  ^h«>'  ^^r  taking  his 

membered  Dearlove's  counsd^a  f^dj^  SI'' L"^ 


i  !J 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

mcmient  smote  him.  The  process  of  "easing  the  first  one 
oil  would  probably  prove  difficult.  "I  shall  have  to 
explain  to  her  that  I  was  in  a  huny."  he  said,  to  comfort 
mmself,  as  he  flew  onward  to  the  town. 

The  explanation  would  have  been  not  untrue,  since  he 
was  already  overdue  at  his  appointment  with  Mr.  William 
Darhng.  his  grandfather's  executor. 

It  was  the  second  of  the  meetings  arranged  for  givine 

ifiu^F"?^  *^^  °^  ^^^  ^^^  he  was  coming  into 
At  the  first  he  had  gone  over  the  lists  of  stocks,  mortgages 
and  bonds.  To-day,  with  a  map  of  the  city  and  the 
suiToundmg  country  spread  out,  tially  on  the  desk 
and  partially  over  Mr.  Darling's  .  nees  as  he  tilted  back 
m  a  revolving-chair,  Thor  learned  the  location  of  certain 
bits  of  landed  property  which  his  grandfather,  twenty  or 
aurty  years  before,  had  considered  good  investments. 
The  astuteness  of  this  ancestral  foresight  was  illustrated 
by  the  fact  that  Thor  was  a  richer  man  than  he  had  sup- 
posed  While  he  would  possess  no  enormous  wealth 
accorduig  to  the  newer  standards  of  the  day.  he  would 
have  something  between  thirty  and  forty  thousand  dollars 
of  yearly  income. 

"And  that,"  Mr.  Darling  explained  with  pride,  "at  a 
very  conservative  rate  of  investment.  You  could  easily 
have  more;  but  if  you  take  my  advice  you'll  not  be  in  a 
hurry  to  look  for  more  tiU  you  need  it.  I  don't  want  to 
hitft  any  one's  feeUngs.    You  surely  understand  that." 

Thor  was  not  sure  that  he  did  understand  it.  He  was 
not  sure;  and  yet  he  hesitated  to  ask  for  the  elucidation  of 
what  was  mtended  perhaps  to  remain  cryptic.  In  a  small 
chair  drawn  up  beside  Mr.  Darling's  revolving  seat  of 
authonty,  his  elbow  on  his  knee,  his  chin  supported  by  his 
fist,  he  studied  the  map. 

"I  don't  want  to  hurt  any  one's  feelings,"  the  lawyer 
declared  again,  "either  before  or  after  the  fact." 
TIi's  time  an  intention  of  some  sort  was  so  evident  that 
82 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

TWfeltobliged  to  say.  "Do  you  mean  any  one  in  par- 

iJ^l^^T  threw  the  map  from  off  bis  knees,  and,  ris- 
uig,  walked  to  the  window.  He  was  a  smaU,  nekt  A^ 
^man  of  fresh,  fn^ty  complexion,  his  exq'uLt  doSS 

t^ung  his  head,  with  quick  little  jerks  and  perks,  Z 

Ws  behmd  his  back,  looking  over  the  jumble  of  W 

™"^s^ir''T"*  °'  ^'^^  ^  clonal  .."C 
SCTai^  ^othke  a  tower-to  where  a  fringe  of  masts 
and^funnels  edged  the  bay.    He  spoke  withlut  t^ 

be'lnv°^*  mean  any  one  in  particular  unless  there  shorn. 
De  any  one  m  particular  to  mean." 

With  this  oracular  explanation  Thor  was  forced  to  be 
content,  and  as  the  purpose  of  the  meeting  se«So  W 
been  accompUshed,  he  rose  to  take  his  iL^ 

faitSuI^f    .^  T  T!^"^  ^  ^^°^S  '^^If  «°t  only 
•^^f^       ?f^-  ^^  ^"^  ^  ^  ""^n  °f  the  world 
.  My  wife  would  hke  you  to  come  and  see  her  "  he  said 
«  shakmg  hands.     "She  asked  me  to  say  tS  thlt^e 
hopes  you  and  your  brother  will  come  to^^^^e^Li^sh^ 

Slf  ^"  '°'  5^5  «  *«  oour^  of  a  month  Z  ^o 
ifou  U  get  your  cards  in  time." 

r.^iT^^  ^pressing  the  pleasure  this  entertainment 
wou^d  give  hmi,  while  knowing  in  his  heart  thaTTe 
wouldn't  attend  it.  the  young  min  took  hislja^. 

But  no  later  than  that  evening  he  began  to  cerceive 
why  the  omcle  had  spoken.  Claude  having  ex<^^^! 
setf  from  dressing  for  dimier  on  the  ground  of  ano^ 

«,»  TkI,™^"''  r°™'  '"  ''hich  the  bindings  of  long 

rows  of  books,  mosUy  purchased  by  Grandpa  ^orl^^ 

83 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

of  that  s  ruggle  havinrL,^  v  "'^^'^  ^^-  the  end 
never  eager  to  LnLdn-LT-f'""^"''  '^^"^  ^e  was 
ning     Hlhi^  Mt^hTt  ^^  "*^  '"^  than  its  begin- 

Won  of  the  dtv  huf™,V.  .     "^  suburban  por- 

ing  of  a  verv  niain  mVi  t,  """'■  /t  naa  been  the  woo- 
r^vJaXck  whe^G^nS  good-looking  lad,  and  had 
motives  th^ Tovet,  :,S^"??:rTh  '  ""'^'"^  "''^^ 
Her  suitor  being  fo°bE"4 fhoJ^^S  ?>t?  "t". 
no  resource  but  tr,  r„=^t  , .      .""f^>  «iiss  Ihorlev  had 

Thor  was  b^m  of  tTe  „??  nf  pT''^'"''*  P^'^S*- 
foUowing.    ^  dL  iL^r  Ji,       ^^''^^  °f  the  year 

TlwrleyVsor  ^^  ""^  ^"^  ^"^^^8  Louisa 

of  Srtt  ss^h^  zcr^  I'  "°^  ^ '«- 

put  it  in  themMkS  amf  ^^    .f^^^^^^^^^'^^tors 

Mo,«>ver.  toS'nTvtr'^l  «'  "^l ''  ^  "°^''- 
never  been  a  moment  m  Thor's  life 
84 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

«*«!  he  had  been  made  to  feel  that  his  maintenance  was  a 
oear  it.    For  this  consideration  the  son  had  bee,i  grateful 

^eX  rt'r-  ^'^  ^^-^-  -^'  -  -  C^ 
Fm- the  minute  he  was  moving  restlessly  about  the  room 

fath^°^^  "^'  *°.^^-     ^^"-^  the  way  in  wWcT^s 

s^^^vrdr^rtt^erstiTo  ri^^' 
:L'«';Lrt2tt"'^  ^*  ^^^  cigarS^r.^L^'rhrtTe 

wT  W^lf  ^r  f^^  ^=^°^*  °f  the  interview  be- 
fatwJ^f^  ^"V^e  trustee  that  afternoon.  At^ 
father  nught  reasonably  ;ook  for  such  a  confidence  wMe 
the  conditions  of  aftecrionate  intimacy  in  wlSh  toe 
Masterman  famUy  lived  made  it  a  mattL  S  c^  ^ 
The  son  was  still  marching  ud  and  down  tiTt;™^ 
^ofang  cigarettes  «pidly  and  thn,wing^  SttsTS 
the  fire  when  he  had  completed  his  Immar^  of  Th^ 
^^ation   received   in    his    two    m^s'ZS  t 

bui^^e^^re'^^ffi^/i-rr^rstrSTp: 

pr^imate  value  of  the  whole  esta  J"    ^  *^ 

Thor  told  him. 
'And  of  the  income?" 
Thor  repeated  that  also. 
"Criminal." 

^to  ri^  th  ^^  ?"  "^P"^'  ^"t  he  went  on  again 
Tb^ti™      ^'  """'"'""  °'  °°*  having  heard  thelst 

in,iiStir^tW  *"'  '"*''?  TJ"^""*'  ^th  repressed 
Mm^tiou.     that  money  should  bring  in  so  trifling  a 

*;He  ^d  it  was  very  conservatively  invested." 


There  was  a  long  s-'ence  before  his 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

earn  more  for  me  than  that-wcU,  I'm  afraid  you  wouldn't 
have  seen  Vienna  and  Berlin  "  wouian  t 

■■f^tao^tW  ^fTt^%T  °P^'"^  ^^  ^^  Slad  to  seize. 

I  know  that,  father.    1  know  how  much  you've  spent 

for  me.  ajid  how  generous  you've  always  beenS  cK 

my  own  I  want  to  repay  you  every—" 

take^^'ri^rr-  T^  ^^-  .^°"  ^'y  '^°n''  think  I'd 
take  compensation  for  bringing  up  my  own  vm      Tf= 

n^  th?tVhT:h^nv'"  '-^^l^'  '  '™P"  --  tfa 
now  that  the  whole  thing  is  coming  into  your  own  hands 

irK:£,T-'  -  '^^  ^"er  With  i^thanlLtS 

Thor  said  nothing, 
father  went  on: 
"Even  if  you  didn't  want  me  to  have  anything  to  do  with 

ILrid^^e^^  •"  *°"^  ^^  ^"'"^  ^'^^'^  ^-  y- 

heS°'  Cth""^''^'.?:?  'l^^'^^  *°  '"^^'^^  his  footfalls 
h^d     Something  withm  him  seemed  frozen,  paralyzed 

He  was  incapable  of  a  response.  ^ 

'Of  course,"  the  father  continued,  gently    with  his 

^^rjeZ'  7  ""  ''l^  -de^tand'thit  >^u  sfidS 
want  me  to  have  anything  to  do  with  it.    The  new 
generation  is  often  distrustful  of  the  old  " 

Thor  beat  his  brains  for  something  to  say  that  would 
meet  the  court^es  of  the  occasion  'without  ^l^Sng 
him     but  his  whole  being  had  gro„  n  dumb.     hTwo^I 

£  oSSr  '"""^^^ ''  ""^  ^^^^^^  ^  ^'^^^i 

tinu^'^Jth  n'lr^-'  u°"^  ""  ^^y"  Mastennan  con- 
tinued, with  pathos  m  his  voice.  "I  had  very  httle  to 
begm  with.  When  I  first  went  into  old  TooS  "offi^ 
I  had  nothing  at  all.  I  made  my  way  by  thrift  foresTh? 
^n^f T*^T.'  i**""^  I  can  say  as  muJh  as  ihat     vtr 

s^irnJSTsXbi"^"^* "  -•  '^' '- — 

86 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

It  was  a  relief  to  Thor  to  be  able  to  say  with  some 

heartiness,  "I  know  that,  father."  * 

"Not  that  I  didn't  have  some  difficult  situations  to  face 

00  account  o  it.    When  the  Toogood  executors  ^^^thdr^ 

a  I  hl^T^'""!;,'^  '*  """^^  ^^''^  S°"«  hard  with  me 
lit,  f  ^"."^'^  to-to"-Thor  paused  in  his  walk, 
waiting  for  what  was  coming-"  if  I  hadn't  been  able  t<^ 
command  confidence  in  other  directions,"  the  father 
finished,  quietly. 

Thor  hastened  to  divert  the  conversation  from  his  own 
affairs.     "Mr.  Willoughby  put  his  money  in  then.  dkWt 

"That  was  one  thing,"  Masterman  admitted,  coldly 
Thor  oould  speak  the  more  daringly  because  his  march 
up  and  down  kept  him  behind  his  father's  back.    "And 
now,  I  understand,  you  think  of  dropping  him  " 

I  Si.ouldn't  be  dropping  hjn.  That's  not  the  way  to 
put  It.  He  drops  himself— automatically."  The  clock 
on  themantelpiece  ticked  a  few  times  before  he  added 

1  can  t  go  on  supporting  him." 

^j;po  yoir  mean  that  he's  used  up  all  the  capital  he  put 

Af'Jt^X^^^  "  "™''  *°-  "^'^  'P^n*  enormous  sums. 
At  times  It  s  been  near  to  cnppling  me.  But  I  can't  keep 
It  up.  He  s  got  to  go.  Besides,  the  big,  drunken  oaf  is  a 
disgrace  to  me.  I  can't  afford  to  be  associated  with  him 
any  longer. 

Thor  came  round  to  the  fireplace,  where  he  stood  on  the 
hearth-rug,  his  arm  on  the  mantelpiece.  "But,  father, 
what  II  he  do? 

.'m      V      *  ^^*  ^  °^  '*'  ^y  ^y  means." 

No;  but  if  you've  got  most  of  it—" 
Masterman  shot  out  of  his  seat.     "Take  care   Thor 
I  object  to  your  way  of  expressing  yourself.  It's  offensive  " 
I  only  mean,  father,  that  if  Mr.  Willoughby  saved  the 
ousiness — 

87 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

shSv'"'^N„'^°  ""^'"^  °l  ^^^  ^'"^■"  Mastemian  said. 

But  Thor  ventured  to  sneak  un     "m^^u  „ 

rnother  one  night  in  Paris.  £  ll^J^t^  TJ^ 
that  h.s  money  might  as  weU  come  to  you  m  go  to  the 
deuce?  Mother  said  she  hated  business  and1i<L'twISt 
WiSr.1?^'''"/  *u°  .^°  "■">  '*•  She  hoped  y^y  eUhe 
WJoughbys  and  their  money  alone.    Didn^tSappln! 

JIJ^"^-  Tu*''P^'"S  ^  ^**er  to  blanch  and  betrav  a 
^iLdhr"^-'''   ^^   '^^'^   disappointed  anS   r^S 

^^1^Ser;h;^"usir-l^-^mJ^-^t^ 

a,'^S'"  *"^.t° '"fuse  his  words  with  a  special  intensity 

i  S  ^f  LL^f.*^'  '''''''''  eyes.'^'id   "si: 
^„I-I  remember  the  way  things  happened  kt  th^ 

yoii  to^'SL^^Th"'?^  ^^,  ''''^*  y°"  ■"«"°ries  lead 
Sg^  •     ^'^'^^^  ^^^y  '^  y°"  to  infer  some- 

^c?Si*Th:r?s;^staS„\-^^^^^^ 

HTsSrrr^^t,  «^  '^ff' *  -nt  toIL^^hi^fX"' 
n.  sJirank  from  the  knowledge  that  would  have  iustified 
^m  w  doing  so.  To  express  himself  with  as  httle  stSs 
a^  possible  he  said,  "They  lead  me  to  infS  that  we^ 
^rXI  'T^'^^'y.  toward  Mr.  Willough^*  "'  "' 

Thor  flushed,  but  he  accepted  the  diversion.    He  even 
88 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

Besides,  as  he  ssid  to  himself   h#.  h»^  »,;„ 

"OLord!"      ^  ""  ""^ ''^^Se-    -lingomg  into  politics." 

T^or  hurried  on.     "Yes,  I  knwT  how  you  feel     R„t  f 
me  It  seems  a  duty."  '  °"*  *<» 

"Secans  a— it/Aa<f" 

The  son  felt  obliged  to  be  apologetic.     "  You  see  fatW 
^£„"^Xs-"^"^  ^^^  stocI^S^fi- 
"Well,  why  should  they?" 
_'The  ccwntry  has  to  be  governed." 

^_  That  isn't  the  way  I  look  at  it." 
It  s  the  way  you  wiU  look  at  it  when  you  know  a  Kttle 

*  89 


l\ 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

more  about  it  than  you  evidentiv  rfr,  „«„,     ru 
with  your  money  you'U  have  a^eht  to  Mu     ^  '°""*' 
time  in  anything  you  pW     but  L  7  T"^  ^"^ 

that  I  ought  to   pVe   y^;  word   n^™"  '""'^  '  ^'^ 
-;jd„-t  be  a  M.L„^°1}  y^Sn-f  n:^;-„  J^ 

"What  score?" 

sol?4  «SLt-^"^  •""«"'  "^  -"-y  humbugging 
"I'm  not  a  socialist,  father  " 

•■r^Z^'- "°  T^    ^  *''°"8ht  you  were." 
_  I  m  not  now     IVe  passed  that  phase." 
That  s  something  to  the  good,  at  any  rate." 
With  pohtics  m  this  country  as  they  7u^-^r,A  „ 
many  alien  peoples  to  be  lick«1  Jnf^  .u       ^^^"'1  » 
looking  for  tl^Lte  to  undtSl^e  °  JSiT"  '  "°  "^ 
for  another  two  hundred  ^^^    ^^"^^  progressive 

•'w=Lf^^\'?'"^"''"S  """^  rapid-firing." 
Want  something  immediate." 
And  you've  found  it?" 
"Only  in  the  conviction  that  whatever'*  t«  k-  j 
must  be  done  by  the  individu^.    rvr^o  t^  ""^ 
longer.    I've  finished  with  th««  .11     t"    *°?°"es  any 

process  in  one's  own  smaU  sph^    If  1^  1    *°''^^ 
Put  what  into  practice?" 

■'Thor.  you  should  have  been  God  " 
1  don  t  know  anything  about  God  father     Hi.t  if  r 

rdL°en"r  '  ^-  '  "^^  -^  ^^  ^<^- 
go 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

lease.  You're  t^ntTotricr"  '"I  '^"^  °^«*  P"/^ 
know  I  won't  do  of  Jv  oT  ^^  '1?'°  '^""8  ^^at  you 
do  with  the  iZoC'u-Ta^oT^roJf^^  "^'^^  ^ 
Fay?  PoUtics  be  hanged  c^P'"^'"^  "  ^  <>W 
me."  nangeai    Come,  now.     Be  frank  with 

Thor  threw  back  hi?  hoo/<     ni 

"iu.  j~.  i.th«rL  in  si ,  '  r ',  '•  '">■  '""J- 

going  to  seli  the  place  ■'    ^      ^  '  '^^'     ">«  '«««•    I'm 
of  'f!;?^/^*'"''^'"  "'^  y^'-S  -an  cried,  "what's  to  become 

this  w^ld^o  aZevZ^"^/  ^'  ^°^-     Am  I  in 

-itSd-S^--£»S'::o:d 

-;2°:SnX'  tlhStV^"'"'  P'-^  to  eali  a 
..S?*'V*;  ^^?h^-P"t  mildly." 

what's  moref^I-^  ^^Tto""^  IT^^''^^'^^  -''^' 
stand?"  ^     ^  '°  °*ar  it.     Do  you  under- 

tha^^ttSeJ'^rof^^r:^ Jil^'  '^^  ^'-^  -'^t-- 
clenched  his  fists     hI  h^       ^^  ''^''^  °^  ^rath.    He 

hin^selffromSng  qS"r.i:-  =".' '^^  ««^da't  keep 
cause  of  his  ver^^^^  ^  kL^ffi*  ^™f*.'^'  '*«>''  ^ 
K  you  don't  bear™,  I  wSl  .^P  '*  "^^     ^  right,  father. 

91 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

He  was  moving  toward  the  door  when  Archie  called 
after  him,  "Thor,  for  God's  sake,  don't  be  a  fool  I" 

He  answered  from  the  threshold,  over  his  shoulder, 
"  It's  no  use  asking  me  not  to  do  as  I've  said,  father,  be- 
cause I  can't  help  it."  He  was  in  the  hall  when  he  added, 
"And  if  I  could.  I  shouldn't  try." 


CHAPTER  XI 

D  Y  the  time  his  anger  had  cooled  down,  Thor  regretted 
LJ  the  words  with  which  he  had  left  his  father's  pres- 
ence, and  continued  to  regret  them.  They  were  braggart 
and  useless.  Whatever  he  might  feel  impelled  to  do 
for  either  Leonard  Willoughby  or  Jasper  Fay,  he  could  do 
^tter  without  announcing  his  intentions  beforehand 
He  expenenced  a  sense  of  guUt  when,  on  the  next  day 
and  for  many  days  afterward,  his  father  showed  by  te 
manner  that  he  had  been  wounded. 

Lois  Willoughby  shewed  that  she,  too,  had  been 
wound^.  The  process  of  "easing  the  first  one  off,"  be- 
sides  affording  him  side-lights  on  a  woman's  heart,  in- 
volved him  in  an  erratic  course  of  blowing  hot  and  cold 
that  defeated  his  own  ends.  When  he  blew  cold  the  chill 
was  such  that  he  blew  hotter  than  ever  to  disperse  it  He 
could  see  for  himself  that  this  seeming  capriciousness 
made  it  difficult  for  Lois  to  preserve  the  equal  tenor  of 
her  beanng,  though  she  did  her  best. 

He  had  kept  away  from  her  for  a  week  or  more,  and 
would  have  <»ntinued  to  do  so  longer  had  he  not  been 
haunted  by  the  look  his  imagination  conjured  up  in  her 
eyes.  He  knew  its  trouble,  its  bewilderment,  its  reflected 
heartache.  'I'm  a  damned  cad."  he  said  to  himself- 
and  whenevCT  he  worked  himself  up  to  that  point  remote 
couldn  t  send  him  quickly  enough  to  pay  her  a  visit  of 
atonement. 

He  Imew  she  was  at  home  because  he  met  one  or  two 
of  the  County  Street  ladies  coming  away  from  the  house. 
With  knowmg  looks  they  told  him  he  should  find  her. 
93 


I 
I 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

Thqr  did  not,  however,  teU  him  that  she  had  another 
viator,  whose  voice  he  recognized  while  depositing  his 
hat  and  overcoat  on  one  of  the  Regency  chairs  in  the 
tapestned  square  hall. 

"Oh,  don't  go  yet,"  Lois  was  saying.    " Here's  Dr.  Thor 
Masterman.    He'll  want  to  see  you." 

But  Rosie  msisted  on  taking  her  departure,  making 
pohte  excuses  for  the  length  of  her  call. 

She  was  delidously  pretty;  he  saw  that  at  once  on 
entmng.  Weanng  the  new  winter  suit  for  which  she  had 
lynched  and  sav«l,  and  a  hat  of  the  moment's  fashion, 
she  easily  dazzled  Thor,  though  Lois  could  perceive,  i:^ 
details  of  material,  the  "cheapness"  that  in  American 
eyes  is  the  most  damning  of  all  qualities.  Rosie's  face 
was  bright  with  the  flush  ,of  social  triumph,  for  the 
County  Street  ladies  had  been  kind  to  her,  and  she  had 
had  tea  with  all  the  ceremony  of  which  she  read  in  the 
accredited  amials  of  good  society.  If  she  had  not  been 
wondering  whether  or  not  the  Cdunty  Street  ladies  knew 
her  brother  was  in  jail,  she  could  have  suppressed  aU  other 
CMses  for  amaety  and  given  herself  freely  to  the  hour's 

But  she  would  not  be  persuaded  to  remain,  taking  her 
leave  with  a  full  command  of  graceful  niceties.  Thor 
could  hardly  believe  she  was  his  fairy  of  the  hothouse. 
She  was  a  princess,  a  marvel.    "  Beats  them  aU,"  he  said, 

1,!^^'  ]°  }^^^-  "^f^Ting  to  the  ladies  of  County 
otreet,  and  ahnost  mcluding  Lois  Willoughby 

J^^  v^  "°*  T^  ^*='"'^*'  ^"-  He  perceived  that  he 
oouldn  t  do  so  when,  after  having  bowed  Rosie  to  the  door 
he  retimied  to  take  his  seat  in  the  drawing-room.  There 
was  a  distmction  about  Lois,  he  admitted  to  himself,  that 
nather  prettiness  nor  fine  clothes  nor  graceful  nrceties 
could  nval.  he  wondered  if  she  wasn't  even  more  dis- 
tmgmshed  smce  this  new  something  had  come  into  her 
^^^  "*  J°y  <»■  grief  ?— which  he  himself  had  brought 

94 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

something  rehearJXd  exC^  C^'"  .^'^^^ 
she  had  given  him  wT  te^  !^h  1,  J^^'°"-  '"^hen 
he«elf.  they  ta^  of  R^e        ^""^  *°°"'«-  "^P  f°«- 

the  S;.''5?tu^°£/Lli2 1?"^'^'  ••'  ^^ 

afternoon?"  ^  ^^  ^J°yed  being  here  this 

;'Why  shouldn't  she?" 

yes,  but  why  should  she?    Anart-f„^*i- 
novelty  of  the  thing-whidi  tT^f^.***  ^^ry  slight 
^  novelty,  after  i-7  dS't^  JJ^T"^  ^iri  is  no 
cares  so  much  about?"  understand  what  it  is  she 

Heweighed  the  question  seriously     "ShAfi„^ 
of  certam-what  shaU  I  sav?-of  '.^^  •     ^"^  * ''°'"'<J 
which  she's  equal-^yone^lfrjfn  a^e^ties  to 

ha^  t  got.    That's  sLeS  ^itS  T'^  ''^f''  ^° 
unagmation."  ^       itself— to  a  gu-1  with 

Who  on  ^h  coulJshe  £VL?^S"    ^^«  -•*  »-• 

"■St^^--:£^Hnt^^^^^^ 

Sett^arss^sfe-wr::'^^^^^^ 

men.  except  the  Italians  who^'«.^      *^\°^y  ^° 

"Oh.  you  don't  know  '^xLtf -^^P^  ?°  **  P^ace." 

Uke  that  often  have  wS  th^' T*^'  .^^X^^"    "C^'s 

a  feUow."  ^*  **^y  *=^'  rather  picturesquely, 

nenS;  JS'"  £'%^I?'^^*^tly  foUowed  by  a 


95 


[  atonement 


i^f-l 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

had  become  impossible.  That  must  be  put  oflE  for  another 
day— perhaps  for  ever.  He  wasn't  sure.  He  couldn't 
tell.  For  the  minute  his  head  was  in  a  whirl.  He 
hardly  knew  what  he  was  saying,  except  that  his  rejoindera 
to  Lois  s  remarks  were  more  or  less  at  random  Vital 
questions  were  pounding  through  his  brain  and  demanding 
an  answer.  Who  knew  bu.  that  with  regard  to  Rosie  she 
was  right— and  yet  wrong?  Women,  with  their  remark- 
able powers  of  divination,  didn't  always  hit  the  nail 
direcUy  on  the  head.  It  might  be  the  case  with  Lois  now 
She  might  be  right  in  her  surmise  that  Rosie  was  in  love 
and  mistaken  in  those  light  and  cruel  words:  "Oh  not 
with  you!"  He  didn't  suppose  it  was  with  him.  'And 
yet . .  .  and  yet ...  ! 

I 
He  got  away  at  last,  and  tore  through  the  winter 
twilight  toward  the  old  appleKM-chard  above  the  pond 
He  knew  what  he  would  say.  "Rosie,  are  you  in  love 
With  any  one?  If  so,  for  God's  sake,  tell  me."  What 
he  would  do  when  she  answered  him  was  matter  outside 
his  present  capacity  for  thought. 

It  had  begun  to  snow.  By  the  time  he  reached  the 
house  on  the  hill  his  shoulders  were  white.  The  necessity 
for  shaking  himself  in  the  Kttle  entry  gave  the  first  prosaic 
chill  to  his  ardor. 

Rosie  had  returned  and  was  preparing  supper.  The 
pnncess  and  marvel  had  resolved  herself  again  into  the 
feiry  of  the  hothouse.  Not  that  Thor  minded  that 
What  disconcerted  him  was  her  dry  little  manner  of  sur- 
pnse.  She  had  not  expected  him.  There  was  nothing 
m.  her  mother's  condition  to  demand  his  call.  She  herself 
was  busy.  She  had  come  from  the  kitchen  to  answer  the 
door.    A  smell  of  cooking  filled  the  house. 

No  one  of  these  details  could  have  kept  him  from 

carrymg  out  his  purpose;   but  together  they  were  unro- 

mantic.    How  could  he  adjure  her  to  teU  him  for  God's 

»ke  whether  or  not  she  was  in  love  with  any  one  when  he 

96 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

come.  Inventine  oTL  t^  °^*  T?^  ^"^  ^'^ 
tions  for  the  S^t  o1  M^  P^:  ^"^.T.^.^*  "^ 
ag^,  not  without  htLliftSa^*^' '"''  ^^  ^un^  "way 

het^worir^^'So".  ''  "^^^^  '°^  «"«  hill, 
o-ren^gavf  SS^fhi^^rStSoT  """^^ 

the  center  of  a  tAnl^  wt^  ^.  '*"  parsonage  in 
as  Thor  Mastennln^pS^Sl^-  at  thl  H  ""'"^  ^»^ 
ter  s  day,  with  the  erit^f7fl»ti  ,?  •  *^°^  °^  ^  ^»in- 
on  roof  and  oZ  C^^Slhe'^hof  *rf  ^"^^ 

the  c^^enTLrtLt  Sec^' '^""^Jin  °"«  Pl«<=^-on 

'J^dSlL^pI^'-J^'^^S^^,^-*.  but  befon, 
were  be^g^tT^f  h^,.'"^^  his  guess.  Patients 
noons  1^1^^.  s^d^  wW  ™'u  T"^^"^  his  after- 
had  happeneT'  Mr  Will^hbTfl'^^"  "^  «P«=t«l 
homeward  by  the  elertri;°T  k  .^  "^^^  *«  «»ne 
^^^^  y  me  electnc  car,  but  was  unable  to  go  any 

Nevertheless,  Thor  was  <!tj.rH->j      u' 
way  to  hear  ;  ^^t^^^^^  he^^oss«l  the  road- 
was  huddled  somehow  on^f  ^.-  u.^h^  .l»g  .creature 


somehow  on  the  seat;  b^t^SffSr 


97 


and 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

imns  turned  to  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  against  whose  cold 
bark  he  wept.  He  wept  shamdessly  aloud,  with  broken 
wclamations  of  which  "0  my  God!  O  my  GodI"  was  aU 
that  Thor  could  hear  distinctly. 

"JK^.^ff^'^  ^^  *■«>«•  ^"T  sure,"  he  said  to  himself, 
as  he  laid  his  hand  on  the  great  snow-heaped  shoulder 

He  changed  his  mind  on  that  score  as  soon  as  Mr 
WiUoughby  was  able  to  speak  coherenUy.  "I'm  heart- 
bS^^°^'  ..***''^'*  t"""**!  a  thing  to-day-«carcely. 

More  sobs  foUowed.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  Thor 
could  get  the  lumbering  body  on  its  feet.  "You  mustn't 
stay  here,  Mr.  Willoughby.  You'll  catch  cold.  Come 
along  home  with  me." 

';i  do'  wMi'  to  go  home,, Thor.  Got  no  home  now. 
Rumed— thaswhatlam.  Ruined.  Your  father's  kicked 
me  out.  AU  my  money  gone.  No'  a  cent  left  in  the 
world. 

Thor  dragged  him  onward.  "But  you  must  come  home 
]JMt  the  same,  Mr.  Willoughby.  You  can't  stay  out  here 
The  next  car  will  be  along  in  a  minute,  and  every  one 
will  see  you." 

"I  do'  care  who  sees  me,  Thor.    I'm  ruined.    Father 

n^.^'^rJ"^-    Got  all  the  papers  ready.    O  my 
God!  what  '11  Bessie  say?"  ' 

■  As  they  stumbled  forward  through  the  snow  Thor  tried 
to  learn  what  had  happened. 

"Got  all  my  money  and  then  kicked  me  out."  was  the 
wily  explanation.  "No'  a  cent  in  the  world.  What  'U 
Bessie  s..y?  Oh,  what  '11  Bessie  say?  All  her  money. 
Hasnt  got  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  left  out  of  tha' 
grea  big  estate.  Make  away  with  myself.  Tha's  what 
1 11  do.    O  my  God!  my  God!" 

On  arriving  in  front  of  the  house  Thor  saw  Ughts  in  the 

drawmg-room.    Lois  was  probably  still  there.    It  was  no 

more  than  a  half-hour  since  he  had  left  her,  and  other 

caUers  might  have  succeeded  him.    He  tried  to  steer  his 

98 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

But  Len  grew  querulous.  "I  do' want  to  go  in  the  side 
door.  Go  in  the  front  door,  hang  it  aUI  Father  can't 
turn  me  out  of  my  own  house,  the  infernal  hound  " 

TTie  door  op«ied.  and  Lois  stood  in  the  oblong  of  light. 

'rZ^\  "L'"    '^^  '^^'  P««^8  outward.     "Is  it 
you.  Thor?    What's  the  matter?" 

SIl.Ti^"  ^  *  servant."  Willoughby  complained, 

as,  wjth  Thor  supportmg  him.  he  stumbled  up  the  steps. 

X  do  want  to  go  m  the  side  door.  Front  door  good  enoush 

for  me.     No  confounded  kitchen-boy,  if  I  am  ruin^. 

i^u  «  'i^f'  ^^  "^"^  °"'  ""^^  ^^  had  got  into 
the  hall  and  Thor  was  helping  him  to  take  off  his  over- 
wat-  look  here    Lois;    we  haven't  got  a  cent  in  the 

r  m'  T  J  'J?  "^^  ^""^'^  got-not  a  cent  in  the 
world.  Archie  Masterman's  got  my  money,  and  your 
money,  ajid  your  mother's  money,  and  the  whole  damned 
money  of  aU  of  us.  Kicked  me  out  now.  No  good  to 
him  any  more."  ^ 

With  some  difficulty  Thor  got  him  to  his  room,  where 

♦    ♦r'^^  i^  ^"^  P"*  "^ '^  *«^-    On  his  return 
to  the  hall  he  found  Lois  seated  in  one  of  the  ann-chairs 
her  face  pale. 
"Oh,  "Thor,  is  this  what  you  meant  a  few  weeks  ago'" 

..T  !  ,  ,  "^^  *°  ^^P"^  <*«  situation  to  her  gently 
I  dont  Imow  just  what's  happened,  but  I'm  afraid 
there's  trouble  ahead." 

She  nodded.  "Yes;  I've  been  expecting  it,  and  now 
I  suppose  It  s  come." 

"I  diouldn't  wonder  if  it  had.  But  you  must  be 
brave,  Ix)is,  and  not  think  matters  worse  than  they  are  " 
Oh,  I  sha  n  t  do  that,"  she  said,  with  a  hint  of  haughti- 
ness at  his  soHcitude.  "Don't  worry  about  me  I'm 
quite  capable  of  bearing  whatever's  to  be  borne.  Please 
go  on. 

"If  anything  has  happened,"  he  said,  speaking  from 
99 


U   I 


II 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

wh«e  he  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  floor  "it's  th.t  *  .i. 
wants  to  dissolve  the  partnership  "        '     *  '  "**  ^""'«" 

•'aZ  ^  ^°°J^}-  ^"  ^^*-    So  has  mamma  " 

Willoughby."        "  f*  ^«y  I'We  money  coming  to  Mr. 

•'Whose  fault  would  that  be?" 
my  Sff^  o^ouLl"^'  '°"^-    ''  '^^^  ^  that  of 

"And  I  shouldn't  think  you'd  want  to  find  out  " 
♦u  .?  '??''^  ^°'^  at  her  curiously     "  TO^„  ^„ 
that?   Shouldn't  you?"        "'""*'/•       Why  do  you  say 

She  seemed  to  shiver.  "Whv  should  T?  Tf*i. 
gone,  it's  gone.  Whether  Ty  fltW  hL  "  *"  "l"^^'^ 
or  your  father  has-"  She  Zi  I.^  ''*'  squandered  it 
the  staire.  where,  with  a  f^t^  ««i  crossed  the  haU  to 
she  leaned  on^e^SLti  of  ^.  K  "T"'*  °^  *«  '^' 
want  to  know."  she'STwrit'eiS'^'the"'  '°":* 
gone,  they've  shuffled  ii  away  S^een  i  """"^ ' 
don't  see  that  it  would  help  d^er  y^"^  *1!=.  ^<^  ' 
who's  to  blame."  you  or  me  to  find  out 

It  was  a  minute  at  w'-ieh  Th™.  ~«.i  j  -i  . 
out  the  words  whichToJ™  ^^^1"^"''  "^'^ 
he  would  one  day  speak  to  h^  HWf  ^  supposed 
it  would  have  b4VWy  to  tS  hS-T  T  ""•*  ^''^^ 
material  part  of  her  ca^  W  «  f  ^  '^'^  '^  t^" 
that  mucTwithours^rJS'h.  I  ."f^"^  "^^^  "^ 
hesitation.    But  the^^  Xa^^^'Al '^  T 

'ove.  It  was*SSdi°^rC',^-^.J^was young 
was  on  it.  and  the  freshness  of  sunr,^  ?!  ^  T°™°8 
renounce  it,  even  to^Thf.T.^        ^*  J^"  ^^  t° 

ah.£gu"S2£ir^,l^--4^ethatwe. 
Has  your  mother  any  idea  of  what's  ^  on?" 

lOO 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANG 


ELS 


knowing  something,   ^pj^le^l^^ '^'^^  ^^P 
that  she's  been  mLn^^'^^tSS'I  "  '^'  ^'^ 
I  suppose  it  wiU  be  very  hard  for  W^' 
She  paused,  confronting  hto    ^i,\,,  ., 
But  she'U  rise  to  it     <?h.  j-^',.     . .   '^  be  at  fi«t. 
don't  kno,r^ott«     V^'^'^'f"l°^*Wng-    You 
«dor«.papa.    Ifs^thl^   M  SS'Ll^  f^^^P'^ 
^'-so-^he  won't  VecoenL  ^^  *™f  ^we  that  he's  been 
'^"^d-or  let  ttie  aS^i«t  f  •"  won't  adnut  for  . 
or  ai.    It's  splendid-^dU*^*^?  '  ^'^^^  ^^  *^ 
that  atoost  brSS  m^^Jf  m     "  ^««»i°K  about  it 
you  toow    Youl„STLiJ^r^  "^  '°^  °f  pluck. 
Uh,  I  know  it." 

Of  w'bKrrSe  rS'^?  «^i-  <»-y  one  .de 

rreat  Zx  i^  her fhat-Jnev^^l^SS  "  '''  I^^'^  * 
this  trouble  WiU  bring  it^?'  °°'  '*''  P^^^^P^ 

^He^spoke  admiringly.    "It  will  bring  out  a  g«at  deal 

youknow.attimr^tSr  iw^ '''?£,*"  ^y°°«-    Do 
Pay?"  ^''***^'y' I  ^°«»vied  that  little  Rosie 

"Why.?" 

^^_^d  make  <^.  '^^^^ ^^e-^rdtpS 
"She's  splendid,  isn't  she?" 


away 


'  appeal  of  her  distress,  he 


lOI 


fdt 


H 


a  pang  of 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

^m^tion  in  the  promptnes.  with  which  she  foUowed 

But  he  couldn't  go  on  with  the  discussion.  It  was  too 
odcening.  Every  mflection  of  her  voice  implied  that  with 
ho-  own  need  he  had  no  longer  anything  to  do-that  it 
was  aU  ovei-that  she  recognised  the  fact-that  she  wm 

IT^^  ?".f  *°  '"^  ^^  °^  *^"y-  Th**  ''he  should 
si'spect  the  truth,  or  connect  the  change  with  Rosie  Pay. 

which  her  mind  would  work.  If  she  accounted  for  the 
s.tt«t.on  at  all  it  would  probably  beTTttl  Z^d 
that  when  it  came  to  the  point  he  had  found  thThe 
didn  t  care  for  her.  The  promises  he  had  tacitly  made 
and^she  had  tadUy  understood  she  was  ready  to^ve 

He  was  quite  alive  to  the  fkct  that  her  generosity  made 

^  "^^^"^  i\"  .'"°'*  P**^"«-  That  hTSd  Stand 
tongu^tied  and  helpless  before  the  woman  whom  he  tad 
aUowed  to  Uunk  that  she  «ndd  count  on  him  was  gaZg 
Zt^X-^J^°?^'  ^*  t°  «U  those  primary  inftincti 
that  sent  him  to  the  aid  of  weakness.  There  was  a  minute 
m  which  It  seemed  to  him  that  if  he  did  not  on  the  instant 

^^tT^n   h.l^T'^/*  ^°^^  be  lost  to  him  for  ever. 
After  all.  he  did  care  for  hei— in  a  way.    There  was  no 
woman  m  the  world  toward  whom  he  felt  an  equal  deeree 
wnll^T'*-  J^'^,^  that,  there  was  no  w^an  i^ 
world  whom  he  could  admit  so  naturaUy  to  share  his  life 
whose  hfe  he  himself  could  so  natuiaUy  share.    If  Rosie 
were  to  marry  him,  the  whole  process  would  be  dififerent 
noth^!  W  *^^^°1^<^  he  no  sharing;  the«!  would  be 
nothing  but  a  wdd.  gipsy  joy.    His  delight  would  be  to 
=TfU   ''^°*f  VP°"  ^^'  ~"tent  with  her  acceptance 
and  tiie  very  httle  which  was  all  he  could  expecther  to 
give  hmi  m  return.    With  Lois  Willoughby  itwould  be 
quality,  partnership,  companionship,  and  a  life  of  mutual 
comprehension  and  respect.     That  would  be  much    of 
course;   it  was  what  a  few  months  ago  he  would  have 
1 02 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE 


ANGELS 


hers  to  dispose  of  as  she\^d^!!^  a^rl  loyalty  were 
tingly  balked  the  inifX         ^  "'""  "^    herself  unwit- 

shi^rS t'sSi^'^^  «-  *"«  -/  Of  -pe  that 

I  di;^  £?  s^ytZTatjt  vrtvr  ^"^-^'^ 

hears  in  the  village     Anv  nnJtC^    ^  ""^  gossip  one 

the  working  p5f'sh^sLrid5°h^.V?.'^^  "^ 
He  was  still  incredulmic    -^  j       ^ ''  *"• 

•Tve  hea:!i"h^^ji„^^^'-heard-^.,  ..• 
she  wouldn't  look  at  him  •'^,''*°t~  to  marry  her— and 
a  great  dS  haSe^L^,  J:*  "  "  P^^^'  ^  think.    She'd  be 

put  it,"  she  addeTwiS  a  ^„r.    ^^  ?"^^  ^  «^y 

sttL"t-s^-'^--^-^e;^^^^^^^^^^^ 
^-S:irth^isr^*^£^  i-.^y  trust  hims^ 

t,on  of-of  a:jy  oneTS^Tt^io„  i?&  ""^  *'"«^ 

only^.:ilnfatr?  SLJ  J  '^^/^^  --  ^'n, 
some  o- of  that  fctad."  ""^  "^^^  to  be  with 

again  decla«f  ff  it'T^^^P^^H^y  .*"'  ''^  ^« 
>«-i.  «  was^not  with  han  he  could  have 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

Th^JuTlt  ^"'?»*»'i?«»  it  *«n't  with  Dr.  HilMy. 
^.!T,*'^  **"'*•  Were  there  «,.y  other  riviThe 
couldn't  helptaowing  it    He  h«l  ^w^etoTLSurf- 

K-ta^iL^*^'?  ««piciont-he  haJSSe. 
vet^.^1  ^  ^  '^^y  **""«''  f<"-  hope(-*nd 
^ii.T^^  "•??.  "**  «''^«  "^  that  dim/ridelong 

mh«  greemah  eye.,  he  h*l  thought  that  poSw^'^t 

JJfrw'^A  !^T  ""^^  """^  ''•  ""^  to  her  further 
remarks.  A  faint  memory  remmed  with  him  of  talkine 
mcoh««,tlya«air«t  reason,  against  «mtiment,  S 

^LTr:     ^u^  ""^^"'y  "^^  ""tine  "Pon  Wrn^ 
he  swung  on  his  overcoat  and  hurried  to  taJ«  his  leave^ 


\       ^ 


CHAPTER  XII 

because  he  knew VdSsi^o!,^  .u""^  ^^  '>"^«» 
come  impemtive.     ^d  t=  hS  V^^  °^^  ^  ^ 

convinced  him  that  sTloneast^  ^^"^  ^''  ^""'"^ 
Rosie  car«l  for  him^l  hi  f^  T."^  "  P^^^-aity  that 
for  Lois  WiUoua^v^Srhl<S,  "^."^  "'^«"  'J"  anything 
the  woman-fnr^  X  ^^Z  ^'  ^"^"^^  '^'^ 
the  str««  of  a  love  of  w&,e'.T  ""^  '^'^  ^^'^  ^y 

might  be  over-abrup^^emiStSirh^'^'*-  "'^ 
worst  he  should  eacaije  fm^^  tV  f  ^^''  ^*  "*  «» 
inactivity.  '^  ^^  ""«  unbearable  sta  c  of 

-^nttPi.X'^^'l^^'-^n,;  the  evemng 
father  would  probaWy  have  ^1,  ""^'^  ^  '>'«='°ck.  his 
Wm  first  an  offer  of  n^7-^  T*"  "^  '"w^d  make 
afterwart  Hrexi«TJr™''  '"''u''^  ""^^  ««  R<«ie 
could  neither^t  nS-  2r\jJir*  '^'  he  knew  he 
were  answered  ^        "^^  questions  in  his  heart 

up  to  the  door.    It  was  nof  tw?^  driveway  and  roU 

«  her  paying  hf  mX  fcL^^r^tS^^i^g  stmnge 
stances  were  unusual.  Anvthi^;,,  ^.,fl  '^  ^''^  °^<^- 
might  have  happened  Si  ^^'''^PPf-  ^nytlung 
he  let  himself  in'^^JS  ^  ^^«=^g  ^he  door 
He  recngaized  the  visitor's  voice  i 


"S 


t  once,  but  there  was 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

n^rJd^L^r^X'^.'^-    It  was  a  plaintive 
Oh,  Ena,  vMt's  become  of  my  money?" 
His  moaier  s  inflections  were  as  childlike  as  the  other', 

JJ.^7^^-^    I've  just  come  from  there.    I  can't 

S  X^'r^  '"  r^  ^'''  "^  '^^  to  telf^e 

TT,^  w^   it-when  I  know  we  haven't  spent  it." 

There  were  teare  m  Ena's  voice  as  she  said:  ^eU   I 

can  t  explam  at.  Bessie.    /  don't  know  anything  att 


h/^J'}^''J^  '*°°^'  "^^^  ^^  h^d  on  the  knob  as 
he  closed  the  door  behind  him,  Thor  could  s^^tr.  t^ 

S  b'th':1'°""''  ^«-»^  --rS-'thTcSl*! 
pece  m  the  drawmg-room.    The  two  women  were^d 

W T^"  His  stei»nother,  in  a  soft,  trailing  house^owT 
th^n^"^  ^^'^  ^"^  ^^-  "^^  taUerind  S^ 
JZiT  V  ~"*^*  *°  ^'^^  WiUoughby's  d,mS^ 
dwarfed  as  »t  was  by  an  enormous  muff  and  encumCg 

cnangea.        You  do  know  something  about  business 
Ena    You  knew  enough  about  it  to  drag  iT^dVS; 

''I.'    Why,  Bessie,  you  must  be  crazy  " 
me  so""  T^^=^^°"«^  °*^  '^"''^  ■'■«  «"°"Eh  to  niake 
^aSte^ooT'""""  "^"^^^  ^  "  •*  had'happened 

Er^^'^^JS  :f„i^'  .«=i«taiation  in  the  diamonds  in 
vn^ll^  ear-nngs  as  she  tossed  her  head.  "If 
you^tiat  you  must  recaU  that  I  was  afraid  of  it  from 

.h^T""  '?^,<J"i<=k  to  detect  the  admission.     "Whv?" 

she  demanded.    "If  you  were  afi^d  of  it,  «*y  w^^^i 

io6 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

tobe'aU°:,.r--'t  a^d  Without  seein,  so^ethin, 

Mrs  Masterman  nearly  wenf     "tj     . 
about  business  at  aU.  B^^^'"      ^  *'°«  *  ^now  anything 

'■V^icnt^lSCbo^iil^^^  '-^  -.  fi«^, 
our«oneyin  ,8^^"  ^"'  't  to  see  that  Archie  w3 

"Hl't'"^3JCr'J^,*<"^°withit." 

JJo  w^  it  sulSfedVL^L'^L""'-  -ho  had? 

- -eSnTSl^^S^j^  -  «^t  I  hat«,  h^,, 

'^ady  that  your  Lhl^^t^J^  T"^  y°"  ^^  S- 
now.Ena!    Didn't  y^-^  ^«  *°  "^  «s.    Come 

an^SS.g'SSrroS^^^    "Ididn'tW 
3^,and  your  money  aS^".^  «?at  Archie  woulX 

Very  well,  then!"  B^^"  /  ^^  't  still." 
^.tward  A^Sy.  °'^%"^!f;  ^^^^  her  hands 
Ybu  knew  something  You  l<i,„^*.  ^^^  ^'^  saying' 
^ead.  You  not  only  let^„J°r,'i  ^'^  ^"^  '«»  "^^ 
You  could  see  almdy  thaT^^r^'  ^^  y«"  '^d  us  i^ 
hke  a  spider,  and  that  he'd  cS^^7^«-P*°^«  his  Cb 
you?    Tell  the  truth,  Erl    S"t  jf*'^-    ^^^  didn't 

Afdiie.  that  I  don't  suppoTte  ..^f'  ^"  ^^y  that  for 
wh^le  you  knew  he  J'^hat's^/.T"'  *°  ""«  «• 
a  man  and  his  wife.    The  m^   '  ,  ^^f"^**  between 

^ears  ahead  what  he'sdXgt''  ^*''  '^*  «>«  wife 

When  his  stepmother  bowS^hi  ,,  ^?"^''it,Ena-" 

handkerchief  Thor  ventuS  2  ^J^  *°  ^^  ^"to  her 

of  .the  women  noticed  WnT  ^  ^'^  *he  room.    Neither 

"^"^•""^•"^-ir^-ed.  "that  seems  tome 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

frightful.  I  don't  know  what  you  can  be  made  of  that 
you've  lived  cheerfully  through  these  last  eighteen  years 
when  you  knew  what  was  conung.  If  it  had  been  coming 
to  yourself— well,  that  might  be  borne.  But  to  stand  by 
and  watch  for  it  to  overtake  some  one  else — some  one 
who'd  always  been  your  friend — some  one  you  liked,  for 
I  do  believe  jrou've  liked  me,  in  your  way  and  my  way — 
that,  I  must  say,  is  the  limit — cela  passe  Us  homes.  Now, 
doesn't  it?" 

Mrs.  Masterman  struggled  to  speak,  but  her  sobs 
prevented  her. 

"In  a  way  it's  funny,"  Bessie  continued,  philosoph- 
ically, "how  bad  a  good  woman  can  be.  You're  a  good 
woman,  Ena,  of  a  kind.  That  is,  you're  good  in  as  far 
as  you're  not  bad;  and  I  suppose  that  for  a  woman  that's 
a  very  fair  average.  But  I  can  tell  you  that  there  are 
sinners  whom  the  world  has  scourged  to  the  bone  who 
haven't  bigun  to  do  what  you've  been  doing  these  past 
eighteen  years— who  wouldn't  have  had  the  nerve  for  it. 
No,  Ena,"  she  continued,  with  another  sweeping  gesture. 
"'Pon  my  soul,  I  don't  know  what  you're  made  of.  I 
almost  think  I  admire  you.  I  couldn't  have  done  it; 
I'll  be  hanged  if  I  could.  There  are  women  who've  com- 
mitted murder  and  who  haven't  been  as  cool  as  you. 
They've  committed  murder  in  a  frantic  fit  of  passion  that 
went  as  quick  as  it  came,  and  they've  swung  for  it,  or 
done  time  for  it.  But  they'd  never  have  had  the  pluck 
to  sit  and  smile  and  wait  for  this  minute  as  you've  waited 
for  it — when  you  saw  it  from  such  a  long  way  off." 

It  was  the  crushed  attitude  in  which  his  stepmother 
sank  weeping  into  a  chair  that  broke  the  spell  by  which 
Thor  had  been  held  paralyzed;  but  before  he  could  speak 
Bessie  turned  and  saw  him. 

"Oh,  so  it's  you,  Thor.  Well,  I  wish  you  could  have 
come  a  minute  ago  to  hear  what  I've  been  saying." 

"I've  heard  it,  Mrs.  Willoughby— " 

"Then  I  am  sure  you  must  agree  with  me.    Or  rather, 
io8 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

you  would  if  you  knew  how  things  had  been  m=„,»»j  • 
Pans  eighteen  years  ago.   rve^Ttr^i^*  T^*^  " 

done  her  justice.    We'v^  ♦»in.,„i,*    t  l  .     ®  '>aven  t 

cotossal,  and  Lady  Macbeth.  aTLte^S^  Z"^ 
I  don-t  believe  either  of  them^.M  ^  ^}^''  ^"* 

sword  of  Damocles^no^^i^  ^''^  watched  the 
and,  t  Ww^„^f*^*^*°^^°"a«end 
fnshase^/'  ^"^  Prostrabon-while  she's  as 

He  laid  his  hand  on  her  arm.    "You'll  rrvm»  =„ 
Wt  you.  Mn,.  Willoughg?'  he^ed  ''"^  °°''' 

She  adjusted  her  furs  hurriedlv^'Ail  ri^hf    tu 

' ''rno^tLr "  -^  -w --'  """• 
ro^.t^^j*i;.?rE^^^  n'.^>"  ^  ^h-* 

?5H^€i-i-^i^£Sd-.- 

JSy^Tt  S°ar  f£j::^  ^  r^?r«-t  we  sha'a't 
«m'/  We  slLt^"   ^  '°'°''  ''^  ^^"^  *  ^P«>t  it-    We 

toS*  ]?n^J^°'«*''"^  ^  -^y  °"«  thing  for  him 

nothing^   ^o^lS;  ^  :;^^r  rf  y-  he  could  say 

But  Bessie  was  not  convinced.    "I  don't  see  ho^  that's 
109 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

going  to  be.  If  your  father  says  the  money  is  gone,  it  is 
gone— whether  we've  spent  it  or  not.  Trust  him'" 
Nevertheless,  she  kissed  him,  saying:  "But  I  don't 
blame  you,  Thor.  If  there  were  two  like  you  in  the 
world  it  would  be  too  good  a  place  to  live  in,  and  Len 
and  Lois  think  the  same." 

He  got  her  into  the  motor  and  closed  the  door  upon  her 
Standing  on  the  door-stop,  he  watched  it  crawl  down  the 
avenue,  like  a  great  black  beeUe  on  the  snow.  As  it  passed 
the  gateway  his  father  appeared,  coming  on  foot  from 
the  electric  car. 


CHAPTER  Xin 

OV^S'^l^J^  ^^"^  ^«-  ^  father 
inferring  that  his  mS^hS'^r^T?"  ""P^^'  «°d 
to  say  nothing  of  th^Z^f^l^V^^'  ^^  ^^<i^ 
°"«hby.  For  the  tof^^  wf°  ^^  ^^  ^«-  ^iU- 
right  of  way.  NotW  ^^  '^i  JT  °*«^  demanded 
th^  had  ^  J'SS«,^-^~uId  be  attended  to  tiU 

atlast!  Hew^Lrf^,f°:fl*°fP^°f^n:: 
to  name  it  again  he  wouM  ^  .!^  K  he  was  never 
outlet  for  hJ^onT^/^t?  ^  °°«'-  8^«««  »me 
He  both  strainK^L?' ^*  ^  ^T*^  '"'I  *^^- 
drunk  with  a  ^e  tt^^ln'^^^-  r^^^^^  ^«  f*'* 
ardently  as  it  fi«d  the  ^^'ix*l"°''«-  «»°tions  as 
the  pmport  of  his  feth^s^ J!**  "^J*  f^^  ^^  m 
the  .^w^       ^  b^tl^St^^^^  Sd^  ^^P^i 

^^£^tJn;rsrSy,t7.A--- 

a^^^niTtfelj^-^^o^e.  He  was  in 
continued,  while  hanLTST^vJ^  "°  f  ^g-  Archie 
at  the  foot  of  the  sS  *  "^^  *"*  «  *^«  closet 

thlTnS:^!'"^;*^"".'*?-''-     ^—  like 

St?^et^r-^---'-Sc?rs 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

had  been  lad  for  some  weeks  past— sad  and  detached— 
ever  since  the  night  when  he  had  made  his  ineflfectual 
bid  for  the  caie  of  Thor's  proFr)ective  money.  He  had 
betrayed  no  hint  of  resentment  towaid  his  son— nothing 
but  this  dignified  lassitude,  this  reserved,  high-bred 
speechless  expression  of  failure  that  smote  Thor  to  the 
heart.  But  this  evening  he  looked  worn  as  weU,  worn 
and  old,  though  brave  and  patient  and  able  to  command 
a  weary,  flickering  smile. 

"But  I'm  glad  it's  come.  It  will  be  a  reUef  to  have  it 
wrer.  Seen  it  coming  so  long  that  it's  been  like  a  nightmare. 
Rather  have  come  to  grief  myself— assure  you  I  would." 

'Father,  could  I  speak  to  you  for  a  few  minutes?" 
"About  this?" 

"No,  not  about  this;  about  something  else— somethine 
rather  nnportaat."  ' 

There  was  a  sudden  gleam  in  the  father's  eyes  which 
gave  Thor  a  second  pang.  He  had  seen  it  once  or  twice 
ahieady  during  these  weeks  of  partial  estrangement. 
Uwaa  the  gleam  of  hope— of  hope  that  Thor  might  have 
grown  repentant.  It  had  the  sparkle  of  fire  in  it  when 
seated  in  a  business  attitude  at  the  desk  which  held  the 
center  of  the  library,  he  looked  up  expectantly  at  his  son. 
Well,  my  boy?" 

Thor  remained  standing.  "It's  about  that  prooertv 
trf  Fay's,  father."  »~  i~-  j 

"Oh,  again?"  The  light  in  the  eyes  went  out  witli  the 
suddenness  of  an  electric  lamp. 

"I  only  want  to  say  this,  father,"  Thor  hurried  on,  so 
as  to  get  the  interview  over,  "that  if  you  want  to  seU  the 
place,  I'll  take  it.  I'll  take  it  on  your  own  terms.  You 
can  make  them  what  you  like." 

Archie  leaned  on  the  desk,  passing  his  hand  over  his 
brow.    "I'm  sorry,  Thor.    I  can't." 

Thor  had  the  curious  reminiscent  sensation  of  being 
once  more  a  litUe  boy,  with  soma  pleasure  forbidden  him. 
Oh,  father,  why?   I  want  it  awfully." 


THE  SIDE  OF  THr   a  xr 

..e-T         ^  ^'    IHE  ANGELS 

Rid  of  the  lotf    Tho  ~ 
father's  nund  the  is^:.l^^^alanni„g.    I„  his 
°?Jy  personal,  but  it  W^fadlve'^.'^-    ^*  '^^^  "^ 
She  was  rated  in-the  lot.    Oe^i^lu  ^*  ?«='"d«l  Rosie. 
at  which  to  speak  plai4         ""^^  ^^'^  °>^"te  had  come 

U  you  want  to  set  rid  ,^f  *t. 
I  May  as  weU  teU  y^J!"  °^  ""^  «>  «y  accornt.  father 

the  blotting-paper  on^  de^'^^  A^^^  downwarf^ 
^^.  started  baclc.    "0^.    ^^ft^t  to  do 

^Ihadn-tmadeup  my  ^d  whether  to  teU  you  or  not. 

Oh  no,  he  doesn't." 

,Jfoud  better  ask  him" 
..ihave  asked  him." 

«-  «irl  for  the  P^oJIT/^^*  ^au^e  has  known 


"3 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

"Oh  no,  not  That's  aU  wrong.  It  isn't  three  mootha 
■mce  I  talked  to  CUude  about  her.  Claude  didn't  even 
remember  they  had  a  girl.    He'd  forgotten  it." 

"I  know  what  I'm  talking  about,  Thor.  Don't  con- 
tradict. Seems  your  uncle  Sim  has  had  his  eye  on  them  aU 
along." 

Thor  smote  his  side  with  his  clenched  fist.  "There's 
some  mistake,  father.    It  can't  be." 

"I  wish  there  was  a  mistake,  Thor.  But  there  isn't 
If  I  could  afford  it  I  should  send  Claude  abroad  Send 
him  round  the  world.  But  I  cau't  just  now,  with  this 
niK-up  m  the  business.  There's  no  doubt  but  that  the 
gu-1  is  bad — " 

"Father!" 

If  Masterman  had  been  looking  up  he  would  have  seen 
the  convulsion  of  pain  on  his  son's  face,  and  got  some 
mkling  of  his  state  of  mind. 

'As  bad  as  they  make  "em—"  he  went  or  tran- 
quilly. 

I' No,  no,  father.    You  mustn't  say  that." 

"I  can't  help  saying  it,  Thor.  I  know  how  you  feel 
about  Claude.  You  feel  as  I  do  myself.  But  you  and  I 
must  take  hold  of  him  and  save  him.  We  must  get  rid 
of  this  girl — " 

"But  she's  not  bad,  fathei^-" 

Masterman  raised  himself  and  leaned  back  in  his  chair. 
He  saw  that  Thor  was  white,  with  curious  black  streaks 
and  shadows  in  his  long,  gaunt  face.  "Oh,  I  know  how 
you  feel,"  he  said,  again.  "It  does  seem  monstrous  that 
the  thing  should  have  happened  to  Claude;  but,  after  all 
he's  young,  and  with  a  Httle  tact  we  can  pull  him  out.' 
I  ve  said  nothing  to  your  mother,  and  don't  mean  to. 
No  use  alarming  her  needlessly.  I've  not  said  anything 
to  Claude,  either.  Only  known  the  thing  for  four  or  five 
days.  Don't  want  to  make  him  restive,  or  drive  him  to 
take  the  bit  between  his  teeth.  High-spirited  young 
feUow,  Claude  is.  Needs  to  be  dealt  with  tactfully. 
114 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

;'0h.  but  she  WtSf^""^  '"«''*  '^^  °'8hV-?" 

;;Wh«e?"  Thor  demanded,  hoarsely 
g^S^iJ^stSlS^^^JSdea^ie''^;'  ^^ 

cJ^^aZ?*"  °"^  ^-^  -»^-*y  «  Thor's  abrupt 

wS'l  i<5d  mS.^l.JJ,  J-'^  «th.  trust  hi™, 
mustn't  be  too  ^  on  him  ^  ^'n,«°>ng  on.  We 
steering  is  w^t  Wa^  ^Art3  T'  Sympathetic 
of  the  world  and  ^^t^^^^^  ^"^  ^^  ««» 
tanical  hypocrisies  H^f!^  I^^lf  *'°°  "^^  '>°  P"ri- 
gotintotEtT^oSh^^,?fi«ty<«-K  fellow  who's 

Thor7t*°ou'^f^tS"l«"««.^^  father  down  that 

«d;  ^d across th?red^w<^*r-'w*?V''''  '^^'^  ^ 
of  fire.    It  mighSbeLr^-^"'"f'''^«^«  letters 

Outside  it  m^iSt7^^^\  r?  '^^  frightening, 
white  of  the  e^^S  l^iK'^^  ^^-^^^  The 
spangled  with  lights.  Low  o^T^  tJ^^  ^  T^  ^^ 
was  a  glorious  goM«,  ^  °°  *^"  ^""^  the  full  n:ooa 

The  air  was  sweet  and  cold     Ac  t,«  „*      ,    ^ 
avenue,  of  which  the  snow  was  brok^  «tn.ck  down  the 
and  his  father's  footst^Ldl^hrl    ,  "^J^^  ^'^  °^ 

heba^hisheadtoSis^iltrShlot"'"'^  ^i 
his  hair.    He  breathed  hard    lh»  „    ^°  the  hot  masses  of 

was  Kke  that  oTSg^SLJ  f^f^i"?!,'^^  ^'''^ 
^-    He^notylt^nSTofV^^SuS^^I 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 


ewae  out,  except    j«t  he 


•ouwJy  knew  why  he  had 
couldn't  stay  within. 
On  nearing  the  street  the  boning  of  an  electric  car  ». 

At  Willoughby's  Lane  he  turaed  uo  the  hin  n«f  t 
any  particular  purpose,  but  because  the  t^^T'     i  "^ 
would  be  a  Uttle  hai^     H-!TZf!.       t>«nping  there 

the  dull  acheSf^-inSd^S.  SrWJ*  '^ 
Wthere  was  no  light  «cept  i^e  ^"^^^^^K 
^rooin     Mother  and  daughter  had  doubtless^L 

"How  can  I  blame  Claude?" 

Below  the  ridge  of  the  long,  wooded  hill  tf,»«.  „ 
«-i  running  pa:^H  to  County  sS  'Se^SeTSto* 
no 


,^/"^   '^''^  0"HE  ANGELS 

It  w„  a.  if  hi.  feet  hXcSd  7^^  "^"-ly;  ud  yet 
^guiding  i„,pulse  ^  ?Kbd ^Zf  T^'  '^«'^ 
««n  *  banner  of  smoke  &^tt  u        '  '""«•  •*«i«'it 

"  to  wh'e^^*i^f-J- he  .ot  ^'  «n<«tain 
ftunt  light  in  the  motW's  tZl^  ^^  ''*•  Thetewwa 
^-  The  moon  w«  by^£.\°T  '''^''«»  «  the 
a  band  of  radiance  ^iZ^^,  P^/"""/'"  *°  "^-^ 

the^Sll^fri^  tr  ^^^-house 
^  a  desk  near  this  s^Tat  ^JZT^^-  "^*  "'exe 
She  was  writing  there^^^^^^  ^«tiffles  wrote. 

But  she  was  not  writinV^Ti  "^^  Cltaxde. 
out  bills.    Asbooli^^^,^*'.:,*e  was  making 
«Wity  woman  in  gene^  ^  *«  !?*"«*?ent,  as  weU  af 
when  she  had  lei^e^'  tte^^''  2?«  h"?^"  the  day 

^d^thelong.dim^^.^t'XS.S 

of&:L^^--jhtr5^-  ^— 

was  what  she  had  \^  2^'  ^''^  ^°^^  out."  ft 
begun  to  see  that  hislto.S'f^,'"*^-.  •^^'^  '^  W  ago 
mother's  account.  Het^'i^^^^'?*^  7«*  "»*  -  hS 
than  as  a  detective.  Veiywdn^TfT^l'^  ^  *  ^°rtor 
succ«sful.  so  much  the  tetr^  s!i^\^**f*'°^  '^^'^  been 
fought  some  time,  it  c^^bJ^Z^^  ^^t^^  had  to  be 
She  remained  ^te^Sl  '?egJn  too  soon. 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

.^Z^^^^^'^i^fiia^dMtat.    She  wm  not  to 
oe  aeceived  by  thi»  wounded,  tinluoDv  tone.    "Wnil— 

whatrri,e«ked.gu«dedirtoddn;Tp«t^. 

He  stooped.  Hia  face  wa*  curioiuly  convulied  It 
frightened  her.    "Do  you  fotw  him?"  ^^ 

iMtinctively  the  took  an  attitude  of  defenw.  ridog  and 

Sfif  iS'^*  ***  ***^  '*'*"  '*""''  i'^^And 

"Then,  Rode,  you  should  have  tdd  me." 

Again  the  heartbroken  cry  seemed  to  her  a  bit  of 
trickery  to  get  her  confidence.  "Told  you?  How  could 
I  tell  you?    What  should  I  teU  you  for?" 

"How  long  have  you  loved  him?" 

Her  fa«  was  set  TTie  shifting  opal  lights  in  her  eyes 
w««  the  fires  of  her  will.  She  would  speak.  She  would 
hide  nothing  Let  the  responsibility  be  on  Claude.  Her 
avowal  was  hke  that  of  a  calamity  or  a  crime.  "I've  loved 
him  ever  since  I  knew  him." 

"And  how  long  is  that?" 

.'.'i*  ^^  ^  ^^  months  the  day  after  to-morrjw  " 
TeU  me.  Rode.    How  did  it  come  about?" 

She  was  still  defiant.    She  put  it  briefly.    "I  was  in 

to  mT^  ^  ^'^  ^°^'    "°  **"*  ^y-    "«  spoJ'e 

"And  you  loved  him  from  the  first?" 

She  nodded,  with  the  desperate  little  air  he  had  lone 
ago  learned  to  recognize. 

"Oh,  Rode,  tell  me  this.    Do  you  love  him-much?" 

*u    A,  ''^  '''"'*  "^y  '"^  ^«"  answer.    It  was  as  well 
the  Mastermans  should  know.     "I'd  die  for  him  " 
"Would  you.  Rode?    And  what  about  him?"  ' 

Herhpqmvered.  "Oh,  men  are  not  so  ready  to  die  for 
love  as  women  are." 

He  leaned  toward  her,  supporting  himself  with  his 
hands  on  the  desk.  "And  you  are  ready,  Rodet  You 
really — would  ?" 

She  thought  he  looked  wild.  He  terrified  her.  She 
ii8 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANOEIS 

WMoiu  why  I  want  to  know  "  There  are 

reassured  in  spite  of  h«2^     "^^„*^*  '^"  «^ 
to  say?"  ^^'       ""**  ™  you  want  me 

^^I^want  you  to  «,y  fet  of  aU  that  you  know  rm  your 

to  a  friend  who  tried  to  p^  •-       ^^"'''^  '^°^'>''  *  °^ 

yoillSlr*  *" '^  ^'^^  ^«^''-    r  want  to  bring 

The  asswtion  was  too  much  for  cr-drr  ..     «!,.  _„ 

"Except— who?" 

»cBpi  you,  Rose.    You  re  most  to  me  in  the  world  " 
119 


.n(i 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

«ther  never  have  Ci  it  ^n  ^'"^-    She  would 

understand  how  utterly  S  turS'     r'^T  ^^^  *° 
n^oret^  to  he  aUow^  ^^^y^ZdS^^ 

^'?t?d1rt-^r*^^''-P-P<«terous.    "You-™ 

Of  yJi"  '^at^lKThaSt^S^  ««  'T"'-  *°  '-'^ 
saidwiUbeadeadsecretbTw^t,  ^-  And  what  IVe 
have  told  you.  butS^t^p^,^'  ^^l''''''°^^-' 
me,  Rosie.  Those  tUnJ^jL^^^^^^'Sertban 
secret  now,  dead  and  bSed  tI^  •^-  .^"'  ''"«  » 
^d,  isn't  it?  And  if  iXdd  J«^^  '^  '*  '^'^  l^" 
This  was  too  much     It  w.f  t^  T^  °"«  «I«^" 

fromheratthenTutsh^hrit'SthSw"'"  slipping 
hcMTor  was  not  only  in  her  eve^  a!!i       her  grasp.    The 

■^5f  ""«^  a  sort  of  wail.    "Oht" 
.,But  I  am."  she  cried,  despemteir^ 

-S:;\re'^*„^r^^r'^-  ^i^-^« 

?a>d.    But  that's  a  sec^t^tJ*^      "^"r  ^"^^  ^^""^ 
>sn't  it?    And  if  I  do  Wv-S!^      '  "".^  ^<^  '^O'*. 

-If  compeUed  to^  S^^^a^r^^^^^i^- 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

^^'i^trL.'L^  ;r  ^"^''"^  ^  ^ 

It  wi\S"'  Ir^  r,.^t  ^  ["-f  <Jn;t  have  told  y«,. 

how  you  «,uld  tnJt  :rtt  '  £,d  ,'  ''  *°.^°-^ 
that  some  other  wav  Yc«7'a\i  j  "^^^  ^o^ed  you 
between  you  and  cLd  J^5  f^^^  '"'^  ""^  ''°w  it  w^ 

But  I  never  d-an>eS  of  Trying  t'^^t^  *° '^• 
Believe  me,  I  didn't.    I  swearT^,      ?^?  between  you. 

She  broke  in,   panti^%^  ^°^  1°^^  ^'^^~" 
«udely  or  abruptly  if  "here  Jld''^'^"  *  ^"^"  ^P»''«' 
But  the  chance  was  there     In  a^t,,"-^^  "^''^  ^«y- 
too  late.     '•  Yes:  b„  w^en  I laS  tw  '1™"'^''  ""'ght  be 

She  didn't  know  h^w  to  gTon     H.^*  ^'^''''"-'' 

Yes.  Rosie?"  ^    °°-    "«  encouraged  her. 

She  wrung  her  hands     "nh   a^'4. 
said  that  about  Claude^l  cMn't    ?  ^^"^  "''''    ^«>  I 

He  hastened  to  reHe^Tw  ^"^  ''.•^?^*  ^^JT" 
I  cared  for  you.?"  «=raistress.       You  didn't  know 

^^No!"  The  word  came  out  with  another  long 
do'Sitr  '*  '"  *^°^y-    "B"t  What's  that  got  to 

P^"ofre£j^tfct^'7!!^«  *«  •-»  the 
terrible  that  he  coSf  ^' itf^  °1  *^"  °*«^-  It  was 
moments  sHpping  away)  ^*  "^^  meant-and  the 

woid'd  hr  ""'*  "^"^  "^^  y°«  I°ve  Claude  any  the  less. 
neJi^u^erSnT  ^oS'    ".'*''  '^'^'^  ^e  would 

haft^*;.'^^«'«-»^-nther.    "But  Claude 
"And  I  have.    Is  that  it.'- 
It^was  no  use  to  deny  it  ^She  nodded  dumbly.    Be- 


V  . 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

f^'ah^y-  ""^^  *  ^  possession  of  common  sense 
though  hjs  use  of  it  was  slow  ^"^aa  sense, 

ugni  tan  too  fully  on  his  face.    "Is  it  tt,;=   d__:   »  v 

^d.  WeU,  I  «„'t  marry  Claude  twrtwri  monev  He 
^  t  marry  me, "  A  ray  was  thrown  into  h^^^tie  soul 
whm  she  gasped  in  addition.  "And  theteWaJw  ^ 
mother  and  Matt  I"  *°^  """^ 

if  Ji'*'^  ^P'-ession  lost  someof  its  bewilderment  because 

you'rSther^^-    "But  Claude  m.^L'^ 

£  ip.°-.^^e?d^^  ^zir  s^^ha^  5:^ 

relation  to  each  other  ?"  "™--wnai  s  your 

"I  don't  know  that,  either.    Claude  won't  Mi  Tn»  " 

Ste  cro^  her  hands  on  her  bosom  ^sKd^^-r. 

ately,     I  sometm.es  think  he  doesn't  mean  any^Ht 

R^e.'^JtXi^'"'^    "Oh  yes.  he  does. 
"Do  you  mean  that  you'U  make  him  many  me?" 
He  smded  pitifuUy    "ThereTi  be  no  iS  Rede.' 

You  leave  it  to  me."  "«uuag,  Kosie. 

hn^ti!!^^  from  her  not  merely  because  the  last  word 
Sl^  "^  w-  ^^  "^^'^  f^  '«*  somettLiSrS 
X^LThtT''^-  On  regaining  the  whi!e3 
hZe^^fj!  saw  Jasper  Pay  in  the  shadow  of  the 
nouse,  but  he  was  too  deeply  stricken  to  speak  to  him 
He  went  up  the  hill  and  Kr  fctan  the  vC    It^ 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

which  was  aU  that  to  ««.  *'°°''  "^  "">*  ^''^tude 

gardens;  his  back  was  tow^^.  ^*  snow^vered 
above  the  city.  The  pi^^  ^*  ""T  ^^  ^^  ^W 
gave  something  for  hL^^^K^  T***"^  *^«  ^^^it 
The  ridge,  whe^h^gft'^fj'^^  ^f^  ^"--d  to. 
and  moon-swept.    It  was  a  ~J    ,^^'  '^d^-'ept, 

andb^.  HlfeltS^tirwS*'!^*"'^'^^ 
bodJy  and  mental,  to  si^TnhJ.  ^"  ^*  "^  *  "^ef. 
his  length.  He  ^«s^1^W^  taees-to  fall-to  lie  at 
whiteatss,  as  a  S^i^.,i^t^'°'°*^«««'- consoling 

His  arms  ^^^^^^  ^'^/'^  "^  *  ^^^ 
fingers  pierced  ben^^hT  ^"^^  ^  J»«ad.  His 
tender.  nestSfg  ^^  ^  ^,  ^  th«y  touched  S^ 


r*} 


CHAPTER  XIV 

plainfist  of  dweUintr.!  tm,;,,*^  u       ■  r^'    "  ^^  *« 
dovelike  Jlv™f '  »lf  ^  tT"?  ^"^  ^^"^^^  ^  a 

HeUo,  Uncle  Sim!" 
"Hello,  Thor!" 

mg  me  about  Claude  a„dTc2  ?ay  "      *"  '  ^  *^- 

IJnde  Smi  turned  the  key  in  the  loot  v^tv.       i     j 

gating     -Father  had  to  d^it    c«d  he^   T^^X  °"'* 

,.^«  y°"  Imow  it  then?— already '" 
^a^tWit.    Couldn't  help-putting  two  aadt^c* 
l»4 


THE   SIDE   OF  Tuv    axt^ 
"v™,^  "*•  ANGELS 

What  do  X  think  now?    i  I^  ,1,°  ^"^  th«fc  now?" 
oth^  people's  busine^!^.     ^ '^°"  '  "'"^  any thing-abo«t 
i  tmnk  we  oinrhi-  +    j 

"Yes,  and  susT  %T'^^^  '^^■" 

•;^  you  naeanTo  JfS  t^''  ^"^  any  one  " 

"That  little  baggage  R.-    ^  °  get  them 

"Sheif^  v^,""*^'  diplomatic  in ^hf    -^  ^"^^^  he 

Thor  considered  it  prudent  ^  ^"^«g  her  ends." 
'■or  -r"  "^  ^'^^^  that  I  cjfill^^  ^"'^  I  '^^ 
"Then  that's  all  ritrhf-     /t_.     . 


11    .. 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

one  rwilt-not  that  of  getting  people  out  of  trouble  but 
of  gettmg  oneself  in.    But  every  one  to  his  taste  TW 

i^^^tT^Zr^^  of  being  in  a  hurry  when  things 

"All  right.  Thor.    You  know  better  than  I.    I'm  one 

of  those  slowpokes  who  look  on  the  fancy  for  taking  a  h^d 

smade-there's  always  time.  If  you  don't  do  it  toX 
J^^can^to-morrow-which  is  a  reason  for  puttl^gT^^; 

he^Sd  ^u^w"^  impatience  in  Thor's  pK,test  as 
ne  cned,  But  how  can  you  put  it  off  when  thwe's  some 
one-some  one  who's-who-fe  unhappy?"  ™  "'^^  «  ^ome 

anll"^    Comes  back  to  that.    But  I  don't  mind  some 

Do  em  good.  I've  seen  more  people  unhappv  tlWl 
««dd  teU  you  about  in  a  year;  aSS^Le^ofte^^ 
^e^«j  and  women  by  it  who  before  that  h^  ^ 

^rm  afraid  I  can't  accept  that  cheerful  doctrine.  Uncle 

Jf^^^^'J^""-    Don't  want  you  to.    Wouldn't  in- 
twfere  with  you  any  more  than  with  any  one  else     Free 
country     Got  your  own  rcw  to  hoe     If  ^  ^ 
yom^f  ^^able  m  the  process,  why,  it  'U  ZyTZ 
much  good  as  rt  does  all  the  rest.    Nothing  Ute  h 
Wouldn't  save  you  from  it  for  anything.    bS  th^'s  a 
verse  of  an  old  song  that  you  miKm  ovL  SH;^ 
mmd-^ld  song  written  about  two  or  three  thou^ 
y^  ago:   'Oh.  tarry  thou  the  Lord's  leisuJ^-'      ^"^ 
T^or  tossed  his  head  impatiently.    "Oh.  pshaw!" 
But  rt  goes  on:  'And  be  strong.'    You  can  be  awful 
strong  when  you're  tarrying  the  Lord's  leisure  T^or  b^ 
Sk2^  '~  "^  ^°"''*  »°*  makinn^'.^lfSS 

136 


THE   SIDE   OF  THF    Axr^ 
_»  '^    I  tiE   ANGET  q 

Thor  spoke  up  p^^  ^^-^S 

^TW°*^«-  '"^ '*«"«• '«<^' mistakes- 

approve  of  it  a  Jte     r     V  ^'*"*'d  spirit     Dm,-*  j- 

The  old  *  '*•  ^"cle 

1?n    "f"^""^  *°  the  same  d^°^  w  iis  lif e  hadhe 
No  r^erence  was  «^  by^^tepmot. 

i/y        stepmother  or  himself 


.Mil' 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

to  the  scene  with  Mrs.  WiUoughby  in  the  afternoon  but  it 
w^  not  hard  for  hi«  to  pe««ve  that  in  son^Sge  way 
L7Tu  'l'"?"^  »»>«  ^-^t^  °f  it  to  newness  of  life.  Itl^ 
not  that  she  adnutted  the  appUcation  of  Bessie's  cha^« 
to  herself;  they  only  starUed  her  to  the  kWw™X 
there  wer«  hdghts  and  depths  in  human  exis^«  |^ch  « 
h«_^m,ag.nation  had  never  plumbed.    Her  aa^  w" 

^hJ^\"^Tu  '^'^P^^-  ««  the  petaU  Ta  ^ 
that  has  been  kept  hard  and  compact  by  a  backward 
sprmg  may  unfold  to  the  heat  of  s^er  "^^'^ 
u^S^       ^^  '^'^^  ^  '^ty  meal,  Thor  rose  and 

name  that  had  not  been  on  his  lips  since  diildho^  She 
d^w  his  face  downward  vfith  a  sudden  sob.  a^"  qSe 
inexplicable  except  on  the  ground  that  her  tv^  Zitu^ 
strangled  Uttle  soul  was  at  CS?to  iL'!^'  '"'^^"^• 

Having  gone  up-staiis  to  his  room,  Thor  shut  the  door 

To^JlTt^""'^  fS''^^^  "'^^  '^^'^  had  done^ty 
as  couch  at  the  foot  of  his  bed  ever  since  he  was  a  bov 

KiT.*^^.  t"'*"*^^  «  '^^'^  he  had  always  te^  ^t 
able  to  "think  things  out."  ^  ^* 

Now  that  he  had  eaten  a  sufficient  dinner    he  felt 
phMy  less  bruised,  though  mentaUy  Z^  ^aJV^ 

H  w^  i^;  "^  '^^^  having  seen  ur^eSte 
He  hated  the  alternative  of  letting  t4gs  alone  ThS^ 
was  a  sej.se  m  wUch  action  would  have  Sen^anoS 
to  suffenng.  and  had  it  not  been  for  Uncle  Sim  hTS 
have  had  no  scruple  in  making  use  of  it  ™  ««  ^°^<1 

o£^-  Z^^^  '°}fi°^  '""'"S  P^-P'^  ^ttle  their 
own  affairs,  but  how  could  they  settle  them,  in  these  oar- 
bcukr  cases,  without  his  intervention?  As  f^  as^^ 
went  he  was  hke  a  fairy  prince  who  had  only  tTw^I  a 

•skad  Uncle  Sim  s  advice  he  would  be  already  waving  it 
128  ' 


T^^E   SIDE   OF  THr    ^x, 

^shbnor^''>',*°«^eson-!"Lf'yy^'    Those 

«»d  Lois  miri^t  in  ^  ^^«-    But  c^uaT  'i'*"""? 
that  PosSy.'^ifZ:^'^'  *he  slz^J^'^"  ^T.^  R°sie 

ha^<Mdr^'S"rn'  "'^^  ^uS^ollJ?"  "■'^ht 
atizens;   buT  vW     ""^  '^em  up  ^nnv-^^  "  y^' 

«n^i^3*'?'  "J'Sht  live  dolS,  is  "5'«^«Jforboth 
best  and  brav«+     i^  '°  ^ndumnce  anrii  I^      ^^  and 

t,^  ..  ...  .  '^mian,  didn't     t«,         ^^  candle;    buf  *,« 

It  w^^'pi't  d^^'L^'^'hed  it        ^  ~"'*™«1.  himself 

felt  TZX^"^  "'  he  bSd^*°",^°^d  begin; 
could  be  s^^..^*  ""J  vigorous  If  >f  /eet.  He 
'»°'^owlhe^^^  ^<^  thef-!^^«J^.  ftain  details 
sleep.  ^  ^" ^h^-^ht  that. in spiteo?SS,i  ^f  ""  *he 
He  had  heart  Claud.  ^^'^^^.  he  should 

---"S^St-ls-Ss^X-rs 

umu  iess  than  a  minut.  i.- 


lag 


minut*  he 


I!      i.\ 


I  :|' 


THE   SIDE   O^  THE   ANGELS 

had  ooased  the  passage,  entered  Claude's  bedroom  and 
turned  on  the  electric  light. 

Claude's  profile  sunk  into  the  middle  of  the  pillow 
might  have  been  carved  in  ivoty.  His  dark  wavy  hair 
fdl  back  picturesquely  from  temple  and  bow.  Under 
the  coverings  his  slim  form  made  a  light,  graceful  line 

The  room  vas  at  once  dainty  and  severe.  A  striped 
paper,  bnghtoied  by  a  design  of  garlands,  knots,  and 
flowers  d  la  Mane  Ati'oitutte,  made  a  background  for 
white  furmture  in  the  style  of  Louis  XVI.,  modem  and 
inexpensive,  but  carefuUy  selected  by  Mrs.  Masterman 
The  walls  were  further  lightened  by  colored  reprints  of  old 
French  scenes,  discreeUy  amorous,  collected  by  Claude 
himself. 

tu'^u'*  ?°*^  '''■'  ^°^^  seconds  in  front  of  the  bed  before 
the  brother  opnod  his  eyes.  More  seconds  passed  while 
the  younger  gazed  up  at  the  elder.  "What  the  dev— i" 
Claude  began,  sleepily. 

But  Thor  broke  in,  promptly,  "Claude,  why  didn't  you 
ever  tell  me  you  knew  Rosie  Fay?" 

Claude  closed  his  eyes  again.    The  expected  had  hap- 
pened.   Like  Rosie,  he  resolved  to  meet  the  moment 
cautiously    creatmg  no  more  opposition  than  he  could 
help       Why  should  I  ?"  he  parried,  without  hostility 
Because  I  asked  you,  for  one  thing." 

He  opened  his  eyes.    "When  did  you  ever  ask  me?" 
At  the  bank;  one  day  when  I  found  you  there     It 
must  have  been  two  months  ago." 

Claude  stirred  slightly  under  the  bedclothes.    "Oh 
then.  * 

"  Yes,  then.    Why  didn't  you  tell  me  ?" 
"I  didn't  see  how  I  could.    What  good  would  it  have 
done,  anyhow? 

It  was  on  Thor's  tongue  to  say.  "It  would  have  done 

the  good  of  not  telhng  lies."  but  he  suppressed  that.    One 

of  his  objects  was  to  be  conciliating.    He  had  other 

objects,  which  he  believed  would  be  best  served  by  taking 

130 


Macomedian.  ^**" '^  *''«k  highly  of  hiin«Sf 

Claude  lay  still     H). 
Jne-how?"  •"«  eyes  grew  brilliant.    "Helped 

«^d2:'Sirit:^-'ji.,o„-«t^„,todo."  He 

thmg,  arni-t  y<^?"         '     ^°"  *«  '^^  to  do  sonTe! 

Claude  endeavored  tr.  „-•     *• 
to_do  ,vhat?"       ^^  *°  «^"  t™e  by  saying,  "Trying 

«  i^vT^L?"^  ^'^'^'^'  ^t  dashed  in.     "Yo^.^ 

yoi*t]^^  *°  «^  *^«  that  Claude  «phed,  "What  do 

S^drUTottr.:^  S  «  -t  hope,  perhaps 
noticeably  moved  as  yet  In  tf.  "«  had  not  been 
P^ble-bai^y  possibl^tha^aS^p"^  i*  "^S''*^ 
her  disappointment  there  n^ht^  ^°^*  *^  °"thved 
But  he  dared  not  spe<S^^^''^,^,*  ."^ance  that  he  . 

however,  to  keep  o^L  ^u  T^  ^^-    He  ma^^ 

"lS.''£d"V^  w^?te;^^.  ^-''^  ^Si 

y°«'«  going  to  be  nJS'lZ^^^'" 
131 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

Claude  lifted   himself  on   hi.  elbow.    "Manied  o« 
fifteen  hundred  a  year?"    He  wpt.»  r-Tw-JnS^™  **" 

-ffiSf;;;i^:?h»r£^^^^ 

..What  do  I  m^?    What  can  I  mean?" 
You^io^^r^ell  tSa^rof  h""^  ^'.  '°"''^- 

Claude  lurched  forward  in  the  bed.     "  Look  here  Thn,. 
i':rrdr<Sr''i:^*'>^^-     ^'-tried'^L'vTih?"^ 

Thor  answered,  wearilv    "TVb  roti,~.  j     . 

whj*  is  one  Of  the  reS  whj  H^^^  rcTt^'Se 

1 JJ I  ^  .*^''  *°  her-truer  than  I  oueht  to  be     If  T  „o= 
l^^true  .t  would  be  better  for  us  boS*  Ih":^  H^Z^ 

^ato  Thor  was  aware  of  an  up-leaping  hope.    "And 
*3» 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

OM«ippo6eso-intime." 
res,  but  ywg'd  suffer." 

?^'?XS^-?J-«^  ^  the  bed.    ..I 

utter  exasperation.  ^'      ^^«  tone  was  one  of 

Thor  persisted.     "If  gh-  i,„j   ,  . 

_^WeU,  she  has." 
"Has  what?" 

l^^rsh^i]rhlJrir«^i°«-,\y-  of  her  own 

of  Gnmdpa  Thoriey's Tonly^Lrif""'  "^t"  '  «°*  '^"'^ 
that  way."  "^^^  *od,  tf  you  hke,  I'll  do  it 

"Do  it  what  way.?" 

^^yTll  th^dry^'A°±  «^  ^'^'  »he 
From  you.>"  '^  ^  "^"^  own." 

Thor  nodded. 


1.1 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

like  your  equal.    You  know  as  weU  as  I  do  that  feth«- 
^d^mother  wiU  Hck  like  blazes;  "buti  tL?*£ 

wh^^'Se™'^^^^'^  ^°^  *«  ««t^  '*  ^^  some- 
Wa."      ^  won  t  thank  rt  comes  down  to  her  out  of 

thl7?T«^  *^-  '''^*  *^^  ^-    They  needn't  know 
that  I  have  anything  to  do  with  it.    They  know  vou 

there U  be  the  sohd  cash  to  convince  them.    TteXfe 
thing  ^  be  a  pill  for  them;  but  if  it's  Swed^^' 
L-laudes  knees  were  drawn  up  in  the  berf    h,<,  h,r,A^ 

SSXfr  -^--tic^the^^liS 

«pr^on.  but  he  was  unprepared  for  his  words  when 

Sxrjou;^'  ''''^-  ''-'^  "°*  -  •-  -^*^  '^- 

Owing  to  what  he  beHeved  to  be  the  perfection  of  his 
^g.  It  was  the  question  Thor  had  leasH^S  tote 
called  on  to  answer.    He  knew  he  was  tutnfa^te  ot 

E  rif"*  "^  ^^  "'^^  he  forJT^'otog 
but  a  ghastly  movement  of  the  mouth.    It  was  his  turn 

ttan.    What  makes  you  ask  me  that?" 

Because  it  looks  so  funny-so  damned  funny." 
ihere  s  nothmg  funny  in  my  trying  to  rive  a  lift  to 
my  own  brother,  is  there?"        ^     ^«  ^  P^«  a  Mt  to 
"N-no;    perhaps  not.    But,  see  here,  Thor—"     He 
TJ°r^.^  "You're  not  in  love  with  ^XyJ- 
*l,.Vr  ^^J^^  ^^'^^  """^^"t  °f  his  life  had  come 
ttat  he  should  never  reach  another  like  it.     It  XS 
bs  power  to  seize  the  cup  and  drain  it-^  thnTitlSde 
^^^P*f.*^°°"  ?"  had  ever  had  to  meet  none  h«S 
so  ^g  as  this     It  was  the  stronger  for  his  knowTg  t^ 
tf  It  was  conquered  now  it  would  pix)bably  never  iltum 

fcding  the  temptation  there,  as  a  thing  to  be  daUied  with 
134 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

?^^f  ^?i*3^-,  «^^^^th  U  to  the  e^t 
;WeU  what  if  I  was  i^ZfX'Z'^  *°  ^'^^^-= 

iSSTLSI^cS'S'J-'-^  -to  flame.  "Then 
her  touch  i^f:oZ'uiZr'^:^'^  /t  ^ff'  '^* 
her  on  my  own-I'U  be  hanged  ?  I  woul^t  TM  ""^ 
Wto-morxow.    I'd ««t out oTbed and'^^h J^™^ 

-S"iSo?hS2°4S::^f  ^-'  ^"^°^ 
right  hand  holdine  hT't^rl  It  ^  ^?°^  *^^ ''^'*' Ws 

wouldn't  let  me  WhS?'^^  ^^  ^^  ^''^-    "So  you 

Claude  lashed  across  the  bed     "TM  .^ 
&st.    I'd  see  you  damned     I^'see  H  T  ^  ^^'^ 
She's  mine,  I  teU  you^ r'    1°,  ^.  y°"  damned  to  hell. 

any  one^d  to  ^  ^  ^*r°^n*°  ^^'  '^^^  ''^  *" 
Now  you  know."    ^^  '^^  «  all.    Do  you  get  that? 

"AU  right.  Claude.    Now  I  know" 

of  tTfbS^i^s*  t":^  S';:^^? '^^  *«  «^e  side 

without  geitS^  ^'I^-fv^'  ''"'i?^  ^  '•^  «»Jd 
question,%;d  y.^  havi'f ^l^"  •.  ^  ^f  ^«J  V^  a 
you've  got  to  ZZ^'i^^t^-,^-^-  ^^  °°^' 

aflSnned  that  it  wJlJif  .*^J  '^  "^^'^y  ^^ 
Pate  was  upon  hi^  ^fT  ^  ^8e'«  against  Pate, 
elude  her,  bTsHad  ™tTn,'*  1°^'  u  "^  '^^'^  "^^  *» 
She  a<«er^  hm^Xb  Iw  o  "^  ""t  "^^'^  «ove. 
of  bed,  his  mo^  fe^I  T-  ^'^"<^\hanging  half  out 
-Peri<;usly,  ^^^yZ^^.  ^y^  '"-i-g.  i-isted. 

tionraTthough  b^t  t^n.,  tl^^L^*""*  premedita: 

put  into  hisTou^^C^ZSL^^"^  ^'^^  ^-^''^  "-^ 

I3S 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 


M 


I'm — ^I'm  going 


'•It's  aU  right.  Claude.    Calm  down, 
to  be  mamed  to  Lois  Willoughby  " 
But  Claude  was  not  yet  oonvini*d.    "When?" 

,Jp^£  rj'^^/'  •»-«»-.*« 
wittts  XSS '— ""'■■  °-^  *~»«. 

^^laude  let  himself  drop  back  again  among  the  pil- 
I-^^d  you  and  Rode.    And  ttTmoneJ^Slt  ^.^«^ 

his  proffle  upturned.    Thor  was  sw^nf  Kr^Il     °°?^' 
SaSe'f  r^^  P-t^  thllSJ^^tTS^ 

But  in  the  passage  he  heard  the  pad  of  bare  fei^  »v.w„^ 

hm     Claude  stood  there  in  his  paSw.^^^^** 
oay,  Thor,    he  whispered,  hoarsolv  "•.»—•_-  *     v  . 

don't  care  anything  about  R(Se     nf^  "'^  ^°^ 

Bnf  f™  ~,t  ».     •    *"*"'  Kosie.    Of  course  you  don't 

J^^«.e"^SLJXbJ:-m^^5ha^.^  S 
'•^Sf..  S"*  with  you  to  back  mTu^»      ««*  I  m  on 
I-U  back  you  up  an  right.  Claude.    Just  wade  in  and 
136 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

With  another  tufat  M^^ti,  J^  "  ^"""^  °*  *°^*^" 
articukte  thanks  Claud«^.-^  u  ^,  "™'  «'«J  «»««  in- 
„Tlior  cl.^^ZS'^^.tfok  to  his  „x«>  again. 

He  was  too  far  Wfor^  '2*^  "  ''^^d  him- 
theenc^toth^offMsd^™?-  He  had  hardly 
Within  five  minutes  of  hk  fi^  L^  ^'^  *"™  ""*  ««» light, 
deeping  profoundj  ^^  assurance  to  Claude  he  wu 

10  ^ 


i 


#s 


CHAPTER  XV 

UAVING  slept  soundly  till  after  eight  in  the  momine. 
i  *Thor  woke  with  an  odd  sense  of  pleasure  Chi 
regaining  his  faculties  he  was  able  to  anal^-ze  it  as  the 
pleasure  he  had  experienced  in  having  Claude  tugging  at 
his  arm.  It  meant  that  Claude  was  happy,  and.  Claude 
being  happy,  Rosie  would  be  happy.  Claude  and  Rosie 
were  taken  care  of.  ' 

Consequently  Lois  would  be  taken  cai«  of.    Thor 
turned  tile  i(Mom  over  with  a  vast  content.    It  was  the  tune 
to  which  he  batiied  and  dressed.    They  would  all  tiiree  be 
takm  care  of.    Those  who  were  taken  care  of  were  as 
folded  sheep.    His  mind  could  be  at  rest  conceming  tiiem 
of  W^e         *°  ^"^  ^^  "'"^  »t  f^t  even  at  tiie  cost 
There  was,  of  course,  one  intention  that  before  aU 
others  must  be  carried  out.    He  would  have  to  clinch 
the  statement  he  had  made,  for  tiie  sake  of  appea^ne 
and  convmcmg  Claude,  concerning  Lois  WiUoughby     It 
was  something  to  be  signed  and  sealed  beiote  okude 

could  see  her  or  betray  tiie  daring  assertion  to  his  patents 
Fortunately,  tiie  younger  brotiier's  duties  at  tiie  bank 
woudd  deprive  him  of  any  such  opportunity  earKer  tiian 
mghtfaU,  so  tiiat  Thor  himself  was  free  for  tiie  r^ular 
tasks  of  tiie  day.  He  kept,  tiierefore,  his  office  hours 
durmg  tiie  forenoon,  and  visited  his  few  patients  after  a 
has^  luncheon.  There  was  one  patient  whom  he  omitted 
—whom  he  would  leave  henceforth  to  Dr.  Hiliuy 

It  was  but  httie  after  four  when  he  arrived  at  tiie  house 
at  tiie  comer  of  Willoughby's  Lane  and  County  Street 
138 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

^  as  curiously  businis-S  ^  he  hT"'  """^  f  ""^ 
«een  her  share  in  househoM  ta^  h^^  "*^*'  ^"^ 
•eenied  to  denote  a  change  of  h«^'  ^  P'*^*  «P«=t 

you-?5'c^'  Go^^Lte^^'f"^-  "^'»  'Tlad 
Passed.    You'UcheS^hta"        '^^^    He's  so  dt^ 

••terS'^.f^'^'^    "r- going  to  die  ganae." 

ttat.  Besides.  I  r;StVrtw^l'^^*^'^°* 
he  savs  weVp  «n<»<.  ~       ="""Ba  «  would  be  no  use     Tf 

i;m  not  going  ^'^^XLT^ji  "^  ^  No. 
I'm  going  to  say  wh^  I  a^,~^..^^^  y°^  father, 
you  can  Lnp  it  I^n^i^^^  **  ^^  don't  like  it 
of  it  if  I  did.  But  nei£  ^r^^Jt::::    I'd  T  ^  the  woi^t 

inor  tookno  notipp  nf +t,»t     •< »    ,'v^'^^ 
to  law,  wou:d  i?te^^^t  to  ^^i^^'"'  °°*  going 
^^..  ''*'°'''*'*«'ttoaskwhatyouaregoiigto 

JS5?  ^I'mti? '^;^'»^  again,  with  a  flash  in 
what  I'm  S  to  do  ^ffi^  ^^T*^"  ^««°«.-  that's 
left.  I  didn't  let  A^e^^^*  ^^  ^>  ^^^  »°»ey 
of  it-not  me.  I'y^t  Z^T^  »^  his  hands  on  aU 
thi.  house.     I'm  g^nfto^Sin^'^*'*"*!  we've  got 

— if  I  get  ^  ^^yx^f^^j-/^ 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

^  thm  we're  going  abroad.  Oh.  I  know  lots  of  places 
where  we  can  hve-^to  hous  fas  chtrs;  dear  little 
pto^._too-^here  LenTl  have  a  chanc^  to-to  S 

T^or  made  -x  big  resolution.    "If  you're  going  to  let 
the  house,  why  not  let  it  to  me.?"  «  "8  "  let 

She  knew  what  was  coming,  but  it  made  her  fed  faint 
Backmg  to  one  of  the  Regency  chairs,  she  sank  into  it' 
It  was  m  mere  pretense  that  she  said,  "What  do  you  wani 

"I  want  it  because  I  want  to  marry  Lois."  He  added 
with  an  anxiety  that  sprang  of  his  declaration  to  Claude' 
"  Do  you  think  she'U  take  me?"  '-""uae, 

Bessie  spoke  with  conviction.  "She'll  take  you  unless 
^•s.noreofafoolthaaI,think.  Of  course  ^iTS 
you.  Any  woman  m  her  senses  would  jump  at  vou  I 
know  I  would."  She  dashed  away  a  tiar.  ''B^look 
here,  Thor,'' she  hurried  on.  "if  youLtr?^  ^^\ 
have  the  whole  famUy  on  your  ba^Tou  kn^X 
^t  be  marrying  Len  and  me.  I  teU  you  right  now 
b^use  you're  the  sort  that  11  think  he  ^ght  L  do^^ 
WeU,  you  won't  have  to.  I  mean  what  I  say  when  I  tell 
you  we  re  ^g  to  Uve  on  our  income-what's  left  of  it 
We  can,  and  we  wiU,  and  we're  going  to  " 

'^dn't  we  talk  about  all  that  when— ?" 

*    j!?,^y??''*??^«*  to  Lois  and  have  more  of  a  right 

to^cak?    No.    We'll  talk  about  it  now-^d  nev^  S 

more.    Len  and  I  are  going  to  have  plenty— plenty. 

y.Z.  ^  ^  *^  *  manage-weU,  you'U  see." 

Oh, J  know  you've  got  lots  of  pluck,"  Mrs.  Will- 

1^^-  ^^  °^  '"^  "P^-  ^*  ^°°^^  like  some  po<» 
htfle  soubrette,  grown  middle-aged,  stout,  and  rath^ 
^^*^  «>  a  Manvaux  play.  She  acted  her  part  weU. 
-h-ri  T?  ■  ^  ^  K°t  «°re  than  that.  I've  got  some 
abihty.  If  you  never  knew  it  before,  you'll  see  it  now. 
140 


THE   SIDE  OF  THF    am^^ 
rvem«,f     ,  ^'    iHE   ANGELS 

^■'^nl^'Z^TL'^''^'^  *  'ot-r  thought  I 

"A^^if "S  ^\^  ^'^  '«=«*.  «»d  yet-" 
05.  ;  W  Zt'^^^^-  ^  ^  »o„ey  bade 

snould  get  it  back,  beea««  ,  ^j"  ^  I  got  home.  W. 
«M  I  hope  to  the  Loirf  ch7  . '  "*  ^^^^  marry  vou— 
^m««  than  thit  yml^^''^^'  °«  our  han<fa? 

^f-^wM-tS''-     ;^  «"«  -e.  X  hke 
J»ve  gone  to  law     I  JT*  "^  y°»  hadn't  said  it  I  shouM 

2^  W  nice  ^ wi^L""^*  to;    but  It^J 
^rtSr*  ""*  *on^ddeSf^.^T^7*y  ""°*^  ^ 

«he  hadn't  saidtJSia^*  *«>  the  best  of  his  knowledge 
i>essie  chuckled     "  r  %j  > 

IL  f •^' J'"*  ^"^  to  ini  Sri""  """^  to  «y.  did 

rt  out  with  her."  '^  ""«  opportunity  of  talking 

*'SK'S*t3?°"*r^*^t'«thewo„," 


w 


■if 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

III  go  'round  and  make  it  up.  Now  go  and  tee  Len. 
He'U  want  to  talk  to  you." 

Tbor  intimated  that  he  would  be  glad  of  a  minute  with 
Lois,  to  which  Mrs.  Willoughby  replied  that  Lda  was 
having  one  of  her  fits  of  bird-craze,  ^e  was  in  the  kitchen 
at  that  minute  getting  suet  with  which  to  go  up  into  the 
woods  and  feed  the  chickadees.  Good  Lordt  there  had 
been  chickadees  since  the  world  b^na,  and  they  had  lived 
through  the  \,  inter  somehow.  Bessie  had  no  patience 
with  what  she  called  "nature-fads,"  but  it  was  as  easy 
to  talk  sense  into  a  chickadee  itself  as  to  keep  Lois  from 
going  into  the  woods  with  two  or  three  pounds  of  suet 
after  every  snow-storm.  She  undertook,  however,  to  de- 
lay her  daughter's  departure  on  this  errand  till  warning 
had  been  given  to  Thor.        i 

Up-staiis  Thor  found  Len  sitting  in  his  big  aim-chair, 
dad  in  a  gorgeous  dressing-gown.  He  was  idle,  stupefied, 
and  woebegone.  With  his  bushy,  snow-white  hidr  and 
beard,  his  pufiy  cheeks,  his  sagging  mouth,  and  his 
dumsy  bulk  he  produced  an  effect  half  spectral  and  half 
fleshly,  but  quite  pathetically  ludicrous.  His  hand 
trembled  violently  as  he  hdd  it  toward  his  visitor. 

"Not  well  to^y,  Thor,"  he  complained.  "Ought  to 
be  back  in  bed.  Any  other  man  wouldn't  have  got  up. 
Always  had  too  much  energy.  Awful  blow,  Thor,  awful 
blow.  Never  a  <jld  have  believed  it  of  your  father.  But 
I'm  not  downed  yet.  Go  to  work  and  make  another 
fortune.    That's  what  I'll  do." 

Thor  sympathized  with  his  friend's  intentions,  and, 
having  slipped  down-stairs  again,  found  Lois  in  the  hall, 
a  basket  containing  a  varied  assortment  of  bird-foods  on 
her  arm. 

When  she  had  given  bim  permission  to  accompany  her, 
they  took  their  way  up  Willoughby's  Lane,  whence  it  was 
possible  to  pass  into  the  woodland  stretches  of  the  hillside. 
The  day  was  dear  and  cold,  with  just  enough  wind  to 
wake  the  eeolian  harp  of  the  forest  into  sound.  Once  in 
14a 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 


"lirten  to  the  wd- 


^P«W<1  with  a  sort  oV  liquiS  nMe^^^  ^'^^^'  ^^ 
a  bunch  of  millet  stalksftvl  v  ,1  ^^''^  ^^  ««■•  Taldiuf 
T^ile  he  tied  thl^oj^i?  S'S'  *\*«^^ 
Wer  branches  to  the  snc^  K  ?h^  ?^*  *«aed  its 
they  perceived,  on  looW  aZS  ^^^^  «°°« '«"««» 
twenty  of  the  crimson-S  J^  V****  *»»«  d<«n  or 

&  they  went^'^t.^f  3S2'<^'T''.  *•*  f°°^ 
"Pots.  and  fixing  massesoTLItf  ^  •'"^  ^"  ^'^t^^d 
??  approving  chirrup  of  l^  ,h^^^T  ^^^-  ^ 

«^^r^"jth^^  --^^^ri^ii 

«f  the  cold,  they  were  bT^?ft°,^*T  ^*'-    I"  ''Pite 

back  sufficiently  to  disDlaHU      ^.°^  *«  "^^  faffing 

"Lois,  when  L^wT^tSe??^**"^  '°^«J  ^■ 

that  hJ^C^sSp^fit^  i*^  .«»•  ->-  't  wa, 
of  their  task.  Sa'^^^^.^^^deft  rapidT? 
theff  work,  though,  it  sLr^'^'^  ^^^^  ^"^  «««ned 
a  the  supple  mov4ienT^?^»^  ^'  '^^  '««  ^"^'ess 

^°  ?  ^£  ^j^„-- .  H.  U^, 

from  that  which  Rosie  Pav^  J^  ,  *°  *^°*'°"  d^erxait 
In  that  case  the  ^^"^^^J^'^^J?  «»^  in  him. 
««ldn't  have  said  TXZ  Pnmardy  physical.  He 
perhaps  mental,  ^^^^«J»^«rily«  this.  It  was 
't-anemotion.  ^ S ^'S^^-'KS^,^ J- 


If 


-I 

'0 


i 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

lev  sure  that  it  had  the  nature  of  love.  As  for  love,  since 
yesterday  the  word  sickened  him.  Its  association  had 
become,  for  the  present,  at  any  rate,  both  sacred  and 
appaUmg.  He  couldn't  have  used  it,  even  if  he  had  been 
more  positive  concerning  the  blends  that  made  up  his 
present  sentiment. 

It  was  to  postpone  as  long  as  possible  the  moment 
for  turmng  around  that  Lois  worked  unnecessarily  at  the 
fastening  of  her  millet  stalks.  They  were  not  yet  secured 
to  her  satisfaction  when,  urged  by  a  sudden  impulse,  he 
bent  forward  and  kissed  her  wrist.  She  allowed  him  to 
do  this  without  protest,  while  she  knotted  the  ends  of  her 
Strmg;  but  she  was  obliged  to  turn  at  last. 

"I  didn't  know  y9u  wanted  to  be  married,"  she  said 
with  shy  frankness. 

He  responded  as  simply  ^  she.    "But  now  that  you 
do  know  It — ^how  soon  can  it  be.'" 
.    "Why  are  you  asking  me?"    Before  he  had  time  to 
rqply  she  went  on,  "Is  it  because  papa  has  got  into 
trouDler 

•  ."*  ''"^ feady  with  his  answer.  "  It's  because  he's  got 
mto  trouble  that  I'm  asking  you  to-day;  but  I've  been 
meanmg  to  ask  you  for  years  and  years." 

She  uttered  something  like  a  Uttle  cry.  "Oh  Thor 
IS  that  true?"  ' 

m  fact  that  he  must  make  so  many  reservations  im- 
peued  him  to  be  the  more  ardent  in  what  he  could  affinn 
without  putting  a  strain  on  his  conscience.  "  I  can  swear 
It  to  you  Lois,  if  you  want  me  to.  It  began  as  kwg  ago 
as  when  I  was  a  youngster  and  you  were  a  Httlegirl." 

She  clasped  her  hands  tightly.     "Oh,  Thor!" 

"  Since  that  '-"me  there  hasn't  been  a—"  He  was  going 
to  say  a  day,  „ut  he  made  a  rapid  correction— "there 
hwn  t  been  a  year  when  I  haven't  looked  forward  to  your 
bang  my  wife."  He  allowed  a  few  seconds  to  pass  before 
addmg,  '  I  should  think  you'd  have  seen  it." 

She  answered  as  well  as  a  joyous  distress  would  let  her. 
144 


THE  SIDE  OF  Thp   axt^^ 
...      ,   _  '  Z^'-  ANGELS 


Only 


l.itSt!!?^'^— thou^htldid-forawhile     Onl; 

Nothing  would  C  eiS  hf.\'^*'*" 
'h^  to  hav«  pou«d  out  SS  SL  !tf7  ?°«  •ff««tively 
fidence.    It  was  what  he^a2^,T!l'L^'^  "^  W«  <^- 

heart  than  he  had  ev^^^J°  !^  "^^  wore  open 
It  would  have  beer,  T^^^Sw  .^^.*°  *"y  ^ 
Roae  Pay;   and  if  he  ref^n^^    *  "'^  "■'"'e  story  of 
Jt  wa,  only  be«,use  heSSS  CJ?^."^  this^Z^ 
sa^w.,  ^*  obviously  wSt  "d?^'^*'^*  "  ''°^''»'t 
*w   I'y  "  wcwldn't  "do'-^rJ;       .?*  ''"  'wable  to 
that  there  were  things  Tm.^^^  ^  ^^  ^"^^  ground 
Hecurbed.  ther^foS S:^"!^*^,^^^  t°  Sf 
I can't-because  thereaS^i^  n^'^*°^"=»'  ^ say • 
to  t^  about.    If  I  S^"S  J,^  »«^^  be  abte 
w«Ud  be  to  you."     ^  "P*^  °^  them  to  any  one  it 

U,T:Silt'r'^'^y-    "Ifsnothingthatlhave 

canS«e"'"'"^'^'«*o*>  with  eveo^  that 

«  my  own  nTdfit  l^-S^^^^^^^^te.. 
"?h^?t1S'rr?u^jLi-;^-;f  half  tearfully. 

»|.rti;"Jr.'?*6h^^-j^^aHng'^^ 

He  was  glad  she  cnnl^'  "^  >^  «"»  we  do?"  *^'^ 

amplified  ^iTtSS'en'SS^^r^    ^^  ""t  only 
^  that  in  his  «;«  way  S^J,^^  be  sincere.    The 

145^  "J^**  ^<*re  rendered 


'■i 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

Wm  the  mora  cntelul  to  her  for  twt  fordnc  hfan,  or  trying 
toforoeliJin,toa(prMihimieIfintinoerely.  Itwasalmoit 
u  if  the  (liviiwd  hi*  lUte  of  mind. 

"Words  •rm't  of  much  uae  between  tu,"  he  declared, 
in  Us  appreciation  of  this  attittide  on  her  part.  "We're 
more  or  lev  independent  of  them,  don't  you  tWnk?" 

She  nodded  her  approval  of  thi«  sentiment  as  her 
eyea  followed  the  action  of  her  fingers  in  buttoning  her 
gloves. 

"But  111  tdl  you  what  I  feel  as  exactly  as  I  can  put  it," 
he  went  on.  "It's  that  you're  essential  to  me,  and  I'm 
essential  to  you.  At  least,"  he  subjomed,  humbly,  "I 
hope  I'm  essential  to  you." 

Hie  nodded  again,  her  face  averted,  her  eyes  still  fol- 
lowing the  movements  of  her  fingers  at  her  wrist. 

"  I  can't  express  it  in  language  very  different  from  that," 
he  stammered,  "because— well,  because  I'm  not— not  very 
happy;  and  the  chief  thing  I  feel  about  you  is  that  you're 
a  land  of— of  shelter." 

He  had  found  the  word  that  explained  his  state  of  mind. 
It  was  as  a  shelter  that  he  was  seeking  her.  If  there  were 
points  of  view  from  which  his  object  was  to  protect  her, 
there  were  others  from  which  he  needed  protection  for 
himself.  In  desiring  her  as  his  wife  he  was,  as  it  were, 
fleeing  to  a  refuge.  He  did  desire  her  as  his  wife,  even 
though  but  yesterday  he  had  more  violently  desired 
Rosie  Fay.  The  violence  was  perhaps  the  secret  of  his 
reaction— not  that  it  was  reaction  so  much  as  the  turning 
of  his  footsteps  toward  home.  He  was  homing  to  her. 
He  was  homing  to  her  by  an  instinct  beyond  his  skill  to 
analyze,  though  he  knew  it  to  be  as  straight  and  sure 
as  that  of  the  pigeon  to  the  cote. 

There  was  a  silence  following  his  use  of  the  word  shelter 
—a  silence  in  which  she  seemed  to  envelop  him  with  her 
deep,  luminous  regard.  The  still,  remote  beauty  of  the 
winter  woods,  the  notes  of  friendly  birds,  the  sweet,  wild 
music  of  the  wind  in  the  treetops,  accompanied  that  look, 
146 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

«wl«l  be 0* «(WMeL^,  ^?*  m^  me  fed  ••  tf  j 
y«n  when  I've  felt  •oumSSm  •.•**"  *^  "^  ■"  fw 

on  the  mow,  over  which  Uie  WhL  i^**  *^°y«"*  »»«? 

is?^  --•  -ve  r'nSr  s^rthLtr^ 

•unk  face  downward  tetKowT^*^  *^J*'  '^  '«<' 
•gain  over  his  footorinta  .n^^^  ^?  *"°^  *^  drifted 
was  drifting itiil^S^^  '"'  "^"^  °^  J^"  '"nn.  It 
that  caughf  Ss  of  SLCtj;  ''l^!*'  T^  «  "^"^^ 
angry  sunset,  ft  W^l^  W  ^'^^^  ^^ '^  ^«»  «> 
hJm.  facing  the  northJ,rfi^        •     ^^  *«  ^tood  above 

her  and  was  standing  bVw^„  ^""^ "'^'^ ''« "bached 
outward  across  ttle  „nH„w-     *'  ^^  ««tinued  to  gaze 

mthefoi<n^hSriS^^r"^  «^^ 

hke  a  pale  twilight  star  ^^""^  fann-house  lamp  shone 

J-i^drd  £'4^p.r'"..taT.«'-  ^.K*""^''  **- 
to  get  back  to  my  ^1^  cJn^^  ^"T"*^  y°"  I  ««« 
which  I  can  live^d^  ^at^ftl'i*  ~"'^«'«=  « 

-of  JfTe  Snf^S-hFf"    =^'  - 
147 


if  i 


I     i; 


^JHE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

too  mud.  about  wor?  ^i.  ,^  we  St*^'  ^ 
we  live  in  8  country  in  tl»i  n,=w-  '  ^*  ««*  forget  that 
if.  a  world  in  thHo^  "&^*!^ ''«:>*  way. 
aadlwanttobedojT^eofJT  •  ^fS^«  to  do- 
a  little  outburst.    TcS  hdo  jt     t'  ^  **"^'  '^* 

He  turned  to  her  eagerly     ••Yfn,•rJ^*^^^ 
who  knows  what  I  mEwho^^l'^^  f""'  ^' 
You  want  to  be  usefoTto^  °  ««  «5)eaJc  my  language. 

','^<1 1  never  have  been."   i 
^IX>n.t  y^^^wXt^lJrCdtrwa? 

nine  had  S^I^^^^d*^  "'^.if  need  of  the  femi! 
•he  bring  him  ^^^'li'  3*^  ^  that?  or  did 
one  woman  in  toe^5?    u  ^  ^  °ff«ed  by  but 

knew  that  he  hJJhSLSn^^^A.*^-  ^' ^i 
and  that  he  wm««LT    H«^'  '^«'  ^is  lips  on  hers. 

of  fulfflment  and  ^rSLf  f  T  '*°**"*'  '^'^  »  "^^^ 
•*«i°^  for  a  ^^^^iJiT  "^"l'*  had  been 
moment  when  ^ad^^t  ^  second-but  at  a 
happiness  in  it  ^f1^^^  "'?'***  «"•    There  was 

148 


her 
alk 

ay. 

ith 
>le 

a 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

was,  nevertheless  «  w^  ^  ^  allowed  to  enter,  there 

his  feaaS^*^*'^°'«^«>d  drawing 


1 


CHAPTER  XVI 

(^N  leaving  Lois  and  returning  homeward,  Thor  met 
^  his  brother  at  the  entrance  to  the  avenue.  Thev 
had  not  spoken  since  the  preceding  night.  On  purpose  to 
av(Md  a  meetaig.  Claude  had  breakfasted  early  and  w^Ld 
to  town  before  Thor  had  come  down-stairs.  In  i^e 
glimpse  ThOT  had  caught  of  his  younger  brother  as  the 
latter  left  the  house  he  saw  ,that  he  looked  white  and 
womea. 

He  looked  white  and  worried  still  under  the  glare  of 
sb*et  dectnaty  As  they  walked  up  the  drive^y  to- 
gether T^or  took  the  opportunity  to  put  himself  right  in 
the  matter  that  Uy  most  urgently  on  his  mind.  "Lois 
and  I  are  to  be  married  on  one  of  the  last  days  of  Pebru- 
aiy,    he  said,  with  his  best  attempt  to  speak  casually 

She  wants  to  work  it  in  before  Lent,  which  begins  on  the 
first  day  of  March.  Have  scruples  about  marrying  in 
Lent  m  their  church.  Quiet  afiair.  No  one  but  the 
two  famihes. 

Claude  asked  the  question  as  to  which  he  felt  most 
curiosity.    "Gomg  to  tell  father?" 

»t.'7t!l^*^    ?°  "*  shaiy-shallying  about  things  of 
that  sort.    Father  mayn't  like  it;  but  he  can't  kick  " 

Claude  spoke  moodily:  "He  can't  kick  in  your  case  " 

We  re^wn  men,  Claude.    We're  the  only  judges  of 

what's  nght  for  us.    I  don't  mean  any  di^ip^to 

father;  but  we  ve  got  to  be  free.    Best  way,  as  ^as  I 

aee,  is  to  be  open  and  aboveboard  and  firm.    Then  every- 
body knows  where  you  are." 

Caaade  made  no  response  till  they  reached  the  door- 
15P 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 
■tep,  where  he  lingered.    "Lodkhoi«  Ti,™."t.        j  . 

•"S?",  ^^'K^,  to  be  told  what  this  thing  was 
.JhatsaUnght,  Claude.    I've  got  nothing  R  ^^ 

thZ™Zf  ^1  *?"etWn|r  to  do  with  it  when  you  put  up 
"^^^^'  /tf  ^^^  ^  *^'"  ''»  '^^-  complaiCghf 

h  aU?;^™  «^n''"    •  Tfapr  made  a  great  effort,    "fc 

L3LrSidSr4::^,i-TgJS^^^^ 
Srora£s:^^^,-S^r-ti?,«--£4 

but^te  «peated,  tenaciously.  "IVe  got  toTit  in Ty 

"G«)d  LordI  old  chap,  I  don't  care  how  you  do  it  " 

Sld"^'  *^^'  y  '°"e  «=  >*'«  done.  "Tis?  bide 

Its^^sort  of  Uung  you've  got  to  puU  off  m^Sy-^ 

he  hesitated  before  announcing  so  bdd  a  ^JtZ^ 
"and  sol'm  going  to  take  her  ab^."  ?«««»- 

to  l«vi  p'"'°'"  ^''^  *  '^^^'^  8^-  He  had  not  expected 
^  he  should  remain  near  her.  watch  ovTh^  W 
what  she  was  domg  and  what  was  being  done  to  W  SI 
wasbusy  trying  to  readjust  his  mind  wMTckuSTstaS! 

a^^-i^f-^-^^^^'^-^e^^s 

ThOT  was  irritated  by  the  repetition.    "Let's  drop  that 
Cbude  .f  you  don't  mind.    Be  satisfied  once  t^^^i 

»f  you  and  Ro«e  accept  the  money  it  will  be  as  a  favwto 


How  did  you  suppose  I  knew  any- 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

me.    I'm  so  built  that  I  can't  be  happy  in  my  own  mar. 

«mmg  to  me,  and  that  I've  never  done  any  Z^to 
d««ve  than  you  have,  what  Tm  setting  asidJ^^*^ 
tafle.  As  to  the  payments,  ru  do  just  as  you  aav  Tn,« 
first  quarts-  wiU  be  paid  to  Rode  on  thTd^^'yoJS 
marnect-when  th«*>U  be  a  little  check  for  yojfor^ 
uck.  So  go  ahead  and  make  your  plans.  g4S«?»^ 
If  you  want  to  Da«>  say  it's  thrS^ttgySTc^: 
.  To  escape  Ms  brother's  shamefac^  tS^.^,^ 
mto  the  p«xa.  -I'm  not  going  to  teuT?o^^C^ 
tdl  I  m  ready,"  Claude  warned  as  he  follow^  '* 

toUffwStsin^,.'*^  ^°"  ^°^  «-*  '»«'«■«  <» 

"The  deuce  he  is!" 

"Father  told  me. 
thing  about  it?" 

"So  that's  it!    Been  wondering  aH  day  who  could 
ttol^^l-L^reyJ^*'^  ''-''  ^^■''  ^^     ^ 

Sritw*  *?,  '^^  Z"?^  ^  *°  a^ttTtLrcSicSS 

S^eSS?'-    ^*^°^''*I'dt«"yousothatyou^ 
"Take  what  line?" 

Wilis  o^iJT''?  That's  «P  to  you.  The  line  that 
wm  best  protect  Rosie,  I  suppose.    Remember  that  that's 

sCdSt'^"'"f;^"?"L  I  only  want  ^  to  ^' 
stand  that  you  can't  keep  father  in  the  dark.  I  should  mv 
itwasmore  dignified,  andperhaps  better  poKcy.nS  to  Jj" 

di^^u^.^\  Masterman  was  commenting  at  the 
Anner-table  on  tile  pleasing  cii«mistance  tiiat  in^tetiras 
to  Miss  Ekie  Darling's  party  had  come  for  tiie^^ 
famJy.    There  were  cards  not  only  for  ti«  tw^y^^^ 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

dear  that  the  t^cti^mZ^ TSsT ^'^^^'  '* ^ 
dance  and  become  a  baU.  '^  ^  lanitations  of  a 

fomTof  ^JSS^  if'^ST™'^  ^^"^  *°  tt^ 
that  reminded  them  that  4jr  b£,^^%*'^'^.  »"  """"^ 
higher  sense.    They  dined^t  ^^^^  *°  *««*y  ">  the 
with  tolerable  fre^enS-  thrir  ^"'.^^''^'''^  ftequency- 
Asfortheaftem^^to^^^f^  ^^J^^  th^: 
«»«e  of  a  season,  J^  mS^!^^  "1?  '^'^'l*"  « the 
«?«nt  of  them.    B„t  ^s^^J^^  """^y  ^^ 
winter,  and  not  alwaj^^  ^  only  once  or  twice  in  a 
Wfflmunity event,    hl^^^  ^  ^^-    A  ball  was  a 
the  fact  that  the  neigSfa^"^?'  ™ -^ich  to  displaj 
mcwesociaUysignific^tth^rSr  '^'^  ""'te  m  a  gathering 
Pris.    Moi4vfnwL^^n!^^"'"'=^Kofboys^| 
^e  higher  dx^es'of  17^^"^'^^  P-^"^  that 

^  ^Tc^r^Sd  roTS^brr"^  -  ^'-^ 

young  man  mumbled  wom!  tw  ^"'  °^  «««se,  the 
n>ine."    The  S2  SsS^  T'"*  ^•''  "^ot  fo^ 

youtom'^^^rihi?:^^-  ^* '"•««>««  for 
h-  yea«  abroad." 'arc2S?^l,*^^^y.  after 
ofherprettybrow.  "rtae«JcT„  •   '"*'>«  wrinUing 

reaUy  nice  girls."  ^"'  *°  '"•'  y°»  d°»'t  know  many 

Je,*£'cSe"Sis'e;°  ^^,"r,  ^  »°«>-'^  -lici- 
his  father  was  probablylo^w^,^-  P^*^  "''^e^  that 
«ying.  "Now's  yo^  d,3^  !i^'  ^"^  ^hat  Thor  was 
you  know  the  ml^^^J^^.^P^T^  declare  that 
«?>f  We  of  the  op^Sty  td^  ''/u  S°°'  Claude  was 
^th  regard  to^S^^^ ^fj^ilt^!^ "^^^ 
II  IS3  P^y  ^«  «»uld  only 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

"iis  lae  pages  ot  a  new  magazine.    Thor  aA-mr,^  *. 
dwcreet  distance  behind  lS&«,«.Wi,  •       ?^  *°  * 
P««ed  and  said,  q^  ^*^'*''  **«"•   '''««  he 

at  onoe-toward  the  enTj  nei!I*«l^'^  '^'^  •^•«* 

still  stooped  over  the  naeesrf Lr^f^'^'  ^*  "^  '^^ 
to  be  more  bitter  tha;.^.       """^^  "'Mfer^nce  meant 

noble girlAwtteb^  ^'  '"""P'^y-    ^he  is  . 

heSti^'^thelit^  °^  '^'''^'  ''^^  "^  "^ 

fath<.-s  i^.  SLgSSy""' CSerT:  ^Tl  ^ 
mairied,  too."  "^""X-       i-ataer,  I  m  gomg  to  be 

tuSSS^.  "**^  '^  '^"^''^  "y-    **«*«-- 
1S4 


"the  side  of  the  angels 

"Who?   You?" 
- -S*^^"^.  ^  t.*^  *«•  P«t  Claude  on  his  mettle. 

Scr^-rteS:,*^^,^rl^^^^^ 

Pay."  *'      ^o— to— to  Miss  Rosanaa 

nothing  to  say  to  me.  father?"  CWe  ri^-^  "        '^ 
curiously  pitTOus  «-'«»<le  pleaded,  m  a  tone 

'•^tr^ou'Sit't '^'^  °^  "^  '^^^• 
fool?    'nie^::;is"w^/b::L^^r*o  <-«  y-  a  d«nn 

"i^  X"ltTtt?Sr  ".^?''  began  to  pn,test. 

ocably  chosen  as^     \^     l^'  •  ^°"  ^^^  *  '^^• 
"BitUIA^'^t^^^^^*^  time-to  reconsider." 
"^  rtL     ■  */!2^<J«.  father?-if  I  can't?" 
P™«/*«'*  w  between  her  aad-us  " 

■»«1  by  y™.  whom,  Mk"  nJ^S'Siiii.'^ 

XS5  ' 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

ttoaier  dew  "  she  ■obbed.  trwnhlmriy;  "aad  if  d»>.  . 
good  gu-1.  and  love,  you,  ru-m  ac4pt  her^       ^" 

P^^STotTS^  ""^^  i^  out.  «  though 

wsponsible  for  this,  father  "  ■"y™8.     I  m 

8uS^r°''***°^^*^«^''«>'=''««ttit"de.    "Sol 

h  J  J"i^^  ^  *  ^  ^'' •«'*  I  ««l«J«"t 'et  Claude  break 
•'You  found  it  easier  to  break  mine." 
1  don  t  mean  that,  father—" 

youptL^SX?^'?^"'""*^^-'-* 

I  don't  understand." 

you  don't.    She's  aC^^%i^J^^^°2l^y-l^ 
acter  which  Claude  needs  to  gi^C£2^f°°4.'^"- 

w«ddn  t  be  decent  on  his  part  or  honoiable  on  om»l" 
The  father  mterrupted  wearilv     "vZ^i       ^^  , 
s«>^entaUties.    J^et^T^^J'^l^^^l 
WMt  mstrucbons  in  decency  and  J.onor  I^  ««,«? 

"^i:!tr  ^*^«««^timeiv:Li!!x^j^ 

But.  father,  we  mwt  talk  about  it-"  ^^    ^ 
"Tto^^r  T^  ^"^"^  in  his  chair  and  tmred. 
e£t°'^'"'hrSuS'^^'^./^^**7  ^^ 
yom;  presence  is  to  ^^y^d  ^-^  ^"^  ^  ^"^ 

tu^"';^?^-  he"^  T  "°*^^  '^*  for  him  but  to 

tra-*r«^ra  w'Sn""  "'''^  fling  the  paper  to 
iS6 


THE   SIDE  OF   THE  ANGELS 

fn«  that  his  sons  were  Sti^^j  *".!?  **"  mortifyiag 
h«  return  and  i^^oS^SSjl  l'^*'**"^! 
have  done  the  latter  hS  iTnot  £?°"A'  "«  '««J«» 
you  knew  how  painful  ywtf  ^«e!^-  ^""^  *«  ''°«1».  "K 
heard  them.  ThevTcut  hL^^^  *° '"•'  He  still 
heart.    Hewentc^5!sS^'«=™«t»'«'^«*-«««S2 

he  hea^'Sde^'L^.'^Oh^^^rth^r?"'"'''-- 
knew  her,  you'd  feel  ab^t  W  •  ^^f  *^'^?-  "  you 
^^^^  up  as  a  ^y  ^eV'^.J'^  "  ^  *'°-  When  sh^ 
fhade.  You  'U  see^*  ^  "  ^^^  °«|«-  K^rl  i„  the 
in  Paris— •'  ™wui.    After  she  s  had  a  year  or  two 

Hcj^areyou  going  S^fcS^cT  Ss^"^'''^*^ 

That's  all  right,  mother     D^-f  f^f     r 

"oney.    I'ni  not  a  f;>i     f^  h«?' .   '^L  J  •'^^  ^et 

fidenbal  tone,  winking  at  7W  ^'    ^  "*^*'^' '"  «  «»- 

.     teU  you  somUto^^it^  V^l^"  her  shoulder.  'TU 

'«>rd  to  father!    Tm  all  rfeht  ^'  """"^  y°"-    ^ot  a 

She  could  only  Z^t  il  I       ?*^  "^•" 
right  for  mon^'iiJ^*'  "*»»«"'  ^^  mystification.  "All 

^^^^de  made  an  inarticulate  sound  of  assent.    "Got  it 
"Oh.  but  how?" 
I  said  it  was  a  snm+  "    tt 
«8ain-    "Isho^l^t^^env™r,''^''*'""'''«'ther 
«  spanking  good  motto  rSC^T  ''?;!  ^%1««>  such 
ease  your  mind."       ""  ^  °»«  ««  up  that  I  want  to 

^^^Jl^^'^^  '-^at  h.  stepson,  though  she 
tWng  'rong.   have  vm.'?-?^?^ '^'^' '^""e  any- 
whatever  it  ^  th^doK^^T^'"^  embezded?-4r 
No.  mother:    it's  all  /».  It. 

Thor's  presence 'he  JdS'^*«'Jr^."    because  of 
««>ea.  ^^if  ,t  will  make  you  any  the 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

^ed-you  can  put  father  w«  to  that;  ^irTt'l,:;::^ 

;^^^.poor.    AndshehSTrSo^'^ho*'^'; 

thi.  is  just  betweTS  -  "nT^iry^^'hadnrCSS 
^s^nkmg  good  mother  I  shoul^'t  C^d  J^^ 

"Yes,  but,  Claude t    Think!    What  anrt  ^t  .  t^    :, 

Now  you  leave  it  to  me,  mumphy  dear.    I  know 
158 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

PS.  m^yi^,%  l^l^^.  But  ni  teU 
that  it's  aU  on  my  account  ^  "?"*'  ''«•*«  ««•/- 
•noney."    He  ga^  Ws^th      *  ^e**"'"  ^  have  ttT 

"Z' m'^  "'  don't  thLX  woiJn;^;.«'''«'' 

hi« '^y  up  the  .eoo;.r2SrJJ^  ^''* '*  P™'^-*  *o  80  oi 


CHAPTER  XVII 

T'S^wl!^  ^  -nwenient  and  tenor  in  Rosie'i 

X    face  when,  at  dusk  nert  day,  Oaude  stroUeH  H™», 

the  flowery  path  of  the  hothouse     Since  11,^^=^*.^ 

^L.JT^  i*"*  *«*fvemng,tmie  she  had  Uved  in  m 
anguish  of  wonder.  What  was  happening?  W^^J^ 
Sa^^  «t^?  Would  anything  h^^^t  7^  H^ 
Oaude  discovered  the  astoundine  factthat  ^.  -m 

S"'^rdire'rr/?,r-^  y^^'^^tZ£t 

oof    Would  he  go  wild  with  jealousy?    Or  would  he  nmn* 

POBMble,  and  the  latter  more  than  possible  if  h«  w 
-«ved^a  Mot  Of  the  degi«,  in  whi«n:'L"b:S.^ 

As  to  that  she  didn't  know  whether  she  was  glad  or 
ffi,  J  ..  r  ^'Z!^'^^  had  been  her  self^revdaSoT 
«id  how  shodcing;    but  the  memory  of  it  ROTehar  a 

^T^°l"f^- .  ^*  ""^  ^'^  »  g^^confCon  1L^ 
the  open  declaration  of  what  had  been  tnn  i^T'i™^ 

bj^^  in  the  heart.  It  had  bS  a^.^'^^n Jt 
own  that,  lovmg  one  man,  she  would  have  m^JZ^u„ 
rnan  for  money;  but  a  worse  shame  toy  HLl^v™ 
totha  pass.  Por  this  she  felt  herself  4  p^y^±r 
^le^rf  responsible  at  all.  What  did  she.  R^aT^ 
for  m^ey  m  itedf  ?  Put  sucdnrtly,  he;  fim  n^'  ^ 
of  bread,  of  bread  for  herself  and  for  iw  »^ 
^tuatlydepend^t  on  her^^^'b^S^t^^J^^ 
•ad  pleasure  and  action  and  admiration  aaH^ti^ 
i6o 


^  THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS  J 

r«fd  We  have  meanTT  h  ,  -  V     "'  "'  ■^'    ty'    Wl«t 
Mce  he  fe«  began  to  u-.v  ^h^'n'ST:    '«'  «  *J 

•tune  when  she  had  ever  b^t^  f  .  '''"'t  «memb«; 
«  •  P«r  of  boots  without  hi  '  , ''""-'  *  ""^  d«» 
On  the  other  hand.  she^Z^L^"'^"^  befo«l«^ 
ttepmched  food  couldJtS^^  "^^  »  time^„ 

2'wKStK^^-"a,"'ssrE 

^l^tiu  n,^';X"'%rS'J  ^-^^ 

-^riet5c£SB---s 

^dbehappinesstrallg^'''^  "ffP^^^^t    t 

•ad  the  more  satisfying  wdi.  ^*  ^'^'d  be  the  deepei 

to  yews  of  suppresicS*'        '^^  «>«•  aware  of  it,2?to 

i6i 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

a  wl'^^  «Peri««  »  denial  Rosie  could  only  oppose 

it  waTcapable  ^^^^  .JT^^  ^^^  ^  whatever 
what  she  asked  fnTT!™:  t^    .      "^"^  neither  forego 

fuses  good-fortune  and  ill-forhTe  ScJ^^  J^?^' 

wiU.  He  had  his  aSt^  tl^,^h  ^^  *^l^  *°  ^ 
things  material  aTl^SiTSanrthS"'?  ^ 
measured  them.  The  matta^anJ  h«  ^  *  ^°^^ 
she  knew.    They  m^nT^^^t.^^ -«-%^ 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

Thor  and  his  daily  to3T^°°*^«L'^<J«.  ''Wle  ^  ith 
ty  for  life.  SbeLSSZZ^\^^^^^^- 
ination,  of  him.  mTe^  ^^^a"^^  ^«^  '*-  «  in^- 

She  had  spentX,  Kg'^SSfc'!**'^^^? 
while  she  was  cooking  inSS^^i!Sr^.?*y^-    A"  the 
dishes,  or  making  b4  ^^^^  **"*''  **  '^^^^ 
watering  or  ad*e^g  Z^  ?°^^'  "^  P™>i««.  o? 
her  soul  had  been  «gini  ^S^»      -^^  '"°°*'^y  bills, 
^e  would  have  to^^j^ff  *5^^^^  ^«  by  which 
Claude  would  judge  her.  tf  fe  knJ^^     °^'^  ""^^e  her; 
would  judge  her,  and  w4«  S^'fi*"^."""  ''''°  knew 
what  did  they  kiow  awf^?  ^  ^^^  °f  «"•    But 
twentyKxld  ^o75S'^^*  *'*  "^"^  ^^  °f 
th^  know  of  the  tetrofS^LSl     *  ^''-    "^^  did 
and  being  withouTTp^S?  ™IV^^''^°'^«d. 
wouldn't  suffer  in  gi^g^^L  f"^  J^X '"PP°«'  she 
would  suffer!    The  ^LlJ^f '??•    Of  coui^  she 
P^ve  the  ertrejty'^f'^^^'b^  suffering  would 
defended  he^elf  ag^t  heTi^^n,  ^^'''""^^y  Rosie 
unconsciously  she  ^^l^^"^  « -■"^.  because 

^SSI^of^a;-^- ^^-n«  s^ed  her. 

Steps,  and  the  mSf  tts'^L^'^  "^^^"^  "^ble 
things  to  which  daily  b^  "^  '^'l"^*^  °i'  ambn«ial 
brought  them  with  UbT^Z^  ^  °°*biag.  Claude 
that  glorious  life  fa  S  S^ZiT^^^  ~"*«°n«  of 

^econditionsinwhich^etf^tiir,^-  ?'^  "^ 
she  came  within  his  sphere  ^'  *°°'  *«  °>in»te 

*°  give  a  new  mea^to^t^^^  ^er  '''^'.''^  ^ 

he  renounced  her  it  wi^d^^  ™^!J?^^:'«1  that  if 

,^  the  one  thing  she  couldn't 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGEIS 

««^tobeadiyad^r^°^.f'n«se.  If  she  had 
;^da  of  an  enchLted  g^^V**  ^^"^  b«»me  the 
fthe  figure  she  pn«enK  a  ^V^*^  "^^  "°  '^ea 
frwn  a  backgrWd  of  ^  %!°°°^^  «  Pris  as 

^^sre„t:r^'-^-SpsU^ 

P^.  Claude  smiled  c^S^ui°^Pfr«  »*  «>e 
fe*.  Rosie,"  he  said,  in  aSSsper  SV*f  ^  ^  *» 
«.  weVe  nothing  to  be  afraidTa^  j^^^  ^  '«^: 
.  it  was  some  minutes  »»f™«    u      '°°8er- 
««nificance  to  these  w^^'^  f  ««^<i  Pve  concrete 
pied  herself  with  assuringWm  ttJ^h"^  *""^  *«  °««- 
hothouse  but  herself,  and  SK^  '^f  no  one  in  the 
not  be  seen  fn»n  ou^de     She^J^f^'^^T'^  *^^  «^d 
of  low  staging  fh»n  which  folll^  T^  *  "P"*"^  kind 

b«n  moved  away-^wS  St  '^'f^  ^  ««°«y 
Ad  so,  dinging  to  each  Sr^~5^d^^    They 

*^  working-diess-she  wm  s^/^~*°?«=^°«  °f  h^ 
of  moongruity  in  Wn^  I^  ^*  ^l  *  "^^neftil  sense 
attirrf  man/  She^|  w^t^l'^V'  *^  ^^"l"«sly 
blot  hen«lf  out  in  to  5,rS  Lt™^i"™  '^«''''  ^ 
the  very  roughness.  and^e^tTZ^"^!^'  ^'^"•^» 
ha  a  savage,  earthy  charm  *^^^  "^8^-  «ave 

heteStlt^^^ti^^t-.-dbyword.    When 

^e  hid  her  face  .T  C^St''^^"'?'  *°  his  father. 

describe  how  resobte  Zh^tJ^Z^"  T^*  °°  ^ 

™^Deen  m  takmg  the  bull  by 


^^  JHE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

''hat  a  good  mother  M«T^fL"  ''"f •    0»  hearing 
«^«s.  which  welled  upou^^Sr  ^^  ^'  "^ 
heen  crying,  were  like  h^„hL^  ^ff*  as  if  she  had 
matter  of  fact,  she  IrSv'^^^  '^''^S-    As  a 
teffing  her^lf  how  maTshXl^  ?*T"8-    ^he  was 
mstant  that  she  cotJJevS  W  ^""^  ^^'^J^K  f<»-  an 
could  ever  have  manSd^v  ™?  ""^"^  Thor-that  she 
?«d  or  how  iirnn^C^'^"!?***  how  great  the 
fr°pted  the  peril.  ^^^  nT'^T'T.  "*^«  «»- 
hitherto,  that  her  heart  bd^!l,  *    fu^  °°'  '^o'^  it 
her  in  his  anns  for  CTtoT^Sht  *^u'^  "^^  held 
"Mght  treasure  it.  orhe  mi^ht^i        ^l"**  P'«=*d.    He 
»«eak  it.    It  was  a^one     nt^It^  ^f  ''•  '^  he  might 
was  his-to  shatt^ToTtte  HXt .  ^*  ''f^  ««  «d  ^e 
3ft  as  he  was  inclined     11^^*^*",  ^T^^*  «  ">«  mire, 
she  wondered  she  hadn't  seJ^Zu^  *?  ^^  """^  that 
days  when  she  was^^^^^*  ^1*^  «3ual  foree  in  those 
what  she  was  doing."  declaring  that  she  "knew 

it  was'  Ts^er*  ^^^J^J  ^«  ^7  how  difficult 
•*^^  She  was  stiU&t^  T^  '^'  '^^''"t  re- 
"cognized  plainly  enXhS^,  ,^*  ^T^^^-  She 
were  precisely  those  whiS  ft  *f  *^8s  he  was  saying 
her  soul  with  satisfactioT  V^T^^T  ^°^^  have  filled 

obstacles  aside.    TW  w^  t^  L  °^  '™"*P^8  «" 

P«-ible-just  as  ^  rie  ccSd"^""  *=  """^  «« 

Thor  and  his  mother  were  ^>^       ^^^^^  things." 

conversion  would  be  o^ra^tt^^'  ?°^  "^  *^*^*^ 

«>^ces,  by  which  aH  tte  ^iSdl^n     ^*-    ^««  «* 

•fowned,  found  her  odcUy  aSS^.V     rf  ^"  y°"*  ''^re 

^e  had  lost  the  Wtedee^l^ri      ^*  ''^  "°*  •^u* 

ttey  had  become  Sw  to^^^^.'^t  °"ly  that 

that  she  was  his-^wi^™,*  ""^  P^t  central  fact 

-d  no  matt,,  at^f  ^  ^h^-  Price  on  his  si^ 

ifiS 


i 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

It  was  only  when  he  began  to  munnm-  semi-coherent 
P^s  for  the  future,  in  which  she  detected  the  word  Paris 
that  she  was  frightened. 

"Oh,  but.  Claude  darling,  how  could  I  go  tc  Paris  when 
there  s  so  much  for  me  to  do  here?" 

It  could  not  be  said  that  he  took  offense,  but  he  hinted 
at  reproval.     "Here,  dearest?    Where?" 

"Here  whwe  we  are.    I  don't  see  how  I  could  go  away." 

^  But  yoad  hem  to  go  away-if  we  were  married." 
Would  It  be  necessary  to  go  so  far?" 

"Wouldn't  it  be  the  farther  the  better?" 

•■For  some  things.  But,  oh.  Claude.  I  have  so  many 
things  to  consider!"  ^^' 

leftf "'  ^  ^"^^^^  ^^  ^^^  *  """"^  "n^ried  she 

"Her  father  and  mother  and  everything.  Yes.  I  know. 
But  how  ^  I  leave  min^when  I'm  the  only  one  who 
has  any  head?  Mother's  getting  better,  but  father's 
not  much  good  except  for  mooning  over  books.  And 
then  -^e  heatated.   but  whipped  herself  on— "then 

tT  "  ^T;.  .?"'"  ^  °"*  ^"^  J°"8-    Some  one  must 
be  here  to  tell  them  what  to  do." 

He  withdrew  his  arms  from  about  her.    "Of  ccaree 
II  you  re  gomg  to  raise  so  many  difficulties—" 

"I'm  not  raising  difficulties.  Claude  darling.    I'm  onlv 
telhng  you  what  difficulties  there  are.    God  knows  I  wish 
there  weren  t  any;   but  what  can  I  do?    If  it  were  just 
gomg  to  Pans  and  back—" 
^I'WeU,  why  not  go-and  come  back  when  we're  obliged 

In  the  aid  they  compromised  on  that,  each  considerine 
It  enough  for  the  present.  Rosie  was  unwilling  to  damped 
his  ardor  when  for  the  first  time  he  seemed  able  to  enter 
mto  her  needs  as  a  human  being  with  cares  and  ties.  He 
discussed  them  all.  displaying  a  wonderful  disposition 
to  rfioulder  and  share  them.  He  went  so  far  as  to  develop 
a  philanthropic  mterest  in  Matt.  Rosie  had  never  known 
i66 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

to^^Lt"  TW  ■  ,?  ^^  «^°"^y  distasteful  for  her 

apply  to  Ihor.    She  felt  Builtv  toward  hi™     it    u 
~uld  do  as  she  chose,  she  w^d^wliT^  L^** 
She  said  nothing,  however,  while  cLd^weTo-f-Xv  ' 
S^XS'^lJuorSin^TsJ^'^^^'^'-tSe'o? 

He  addi^.-  vn^^f  iSg  utS>Y' "Hl?t  *°rr 
Lois  WiUoughby  "     ^^  "*  *  engaged  to 

"  nn.*"^.  *°  ^«»Pt^  her  position. 
Why,  abeady— right  after  us." 

h^5!  '^*^-  ^T"^-  S««ing  possession  of  one  of  his 
hMds^  To  this  tenderness  he  made  no  resoonse  wf 
seemed  to  rumnate     "Sav   p„„..    „ "    "sponse.    He 

narace  imtil  their  plans  were  more  fully  matured    "  Thor'= 

smTed   h^fu       °PP°rtuiuty  of  slipping  away  unob- 

"You  been  in  the  hothouse,  Mr.  Claude?" 
167 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

«ny  American  beautieT^       *«  m  to  see  if  you  had 
A:^^lfLS-=   *•  *"'*  ^  «>««:  '>"  ^"-^  of 

to  feel  that  Pay's  sUence  stru^Es  h^r  ft  Zl^ 
hin,  as  hostile  with  a  touch  of  un^^*^^!'^*^^ 
back  over  his  shoulder  he  saW  ^Tpff '^^    /^*^« 


CHAPTER  XVm 

THE  provision  that  for  the  „,«_— ^  i. 
customary  lifelnd  R^,"^""*^*  ^e  was  to  lead  his 
Claude  toattSd  t^elSl b^hi^rir"^*  '*  P««*"«  f°r 
notice  of  the  world  to^ ISto^  He^1^""«  ^  *« 
itabons  compunctions,  reluct^^and^***  so  with  hes- 
w  no  wise  diminished  his  d^^'i^   repugnances  which 
It  took  place  in  the  g^t^^bSr°*  ''*,*^"  ^*- 
aewest  and  most  splenlThoS^et I^"  °^  ^^  ^'^'^ 
white^d-gold  and  Ixniis  (SLT  a  ^-""^ '*«^ ''as 
ground  a  tasteful  dec^t^S^'  JP'°^  this  back- 

Claude  arrived  lfll/>  w«.  a-j 
with  his  compunctio^'and  p^v'to^.*"  compromise 
In  gatiaerings  at  which^^Se^w^*^**-'^'  ^««- 
premium  none  knew  bettoT«nT^  Z^  sometimes  at  a 
of  one  who  saunt^'^fa^^'"^  *!«  ''^ghtened  worth 
for.  and  who  earned  him»lf^>i?i^!^  were  to  be  looked 
at  any  time.  cSe  C^SvT^,  '*"'.'*^°?-  Handsome 
in  evening  dress.  Hk1™~  !,  '  °'?  ^^^^  "h"*  he  was 
coat.  hisfiT^'dan^f?^^^  Z"^'  ^°'  ^  "^"^  '^'^ 

toenteratoom^^t^Sv^MT"''''"'"^^'"^ 
to  be  encouraging.  ^  he  ,^  ^'?  "^P*^  *  hostess 
doorway.longfft^tif/jj*/^  "''^''  ^<^y  in  the 
up.  Mn>.  Darling^d  to  W^.T!  ^°?  ^  '^ken 
n,^  attiactive  ^oun,  ^^^^  ^^^  --  -en  a 

Shj  was  gUd  afterward  that  she  had  m^' this  ,,^. 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

Hot.  for  without  it  she  might  have  been  prejudiced  aninst 

ifiwJrTcL^^L^VTthtSoSr.^^ 

cjOmepxKf  .  oks.  particularly  when' they  weTaSZ:: 

^d  oft^r  '     ""^'^y  hesitation  which  on  the  thresh- 
¥  u       '*' "  "'"  *•««  "o  «Jandified  airs  of  seeminetri. 

i^'i  ^^•^'  '''^«8^«  *  '°"K'  pink  train  andwa^ 

dauS^fslnX.^  '"^  ^.«*  ^'    ^'^  ^<^  S 
There  was  something  in  her  manner  that  told  him  sh« 
Jir'Uri'*  wa^-^ething  that  'JZ  STcS! 
bmed^With  pohte  welcome  only  by  one  bom  to  tea 

Claude  had  that  ready  perception  of  his  r61e  which 

mak«  for  social  success.    He  bowed  with  the  rig^  i^ 

chnation.  and  spoke  with  a  gravity  dictated  by  SeS 

I  m  afraid  I  must  introduce  myself  Mrs  Darlinrr^" 

so  late,     rm  Claude  Masterman'MyfathSrS.'     '" 

p»,«  ;».  J'"'  ''"''  ^  '°^«iy  y«^  mother  looks! 
R^y  there's  not  a  young  girl  in  the'^^xan  cantoucA^S 
Won  t  you  find  some  one  and  dance?  I'm  s3  ,^ 
S***;:    S"*'^*^'-!'^  find  her  and  4So^W^/ 

A  mOTe  important  guest  than  himself  beini?  m^tt^ 
^ude  felt  at  liberty  to  move  on  a  paTor^^J^S 
^  the  scene     It  was  easy  to  do  t^  for  the  (X^ 

^^.T.rrth^ittrrve'^^  ^- ^'^«- 
170 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

^^''rJ^"'Tt%t'lr£?^  ^«  -^o-X  of 
*nd  gentle  as  the  b«atW  ofa^l    T  -?  ^  "'^^ 
m  balance  and  smoothness  fa  SiSlff;    I"  l''''*'  '^  t^. 
mot  on.  there  was  thTs^^^*)^^  '''"'=''  ''«»  «carcei; 
pa^ion  lulled,  which  ^^Z^^'^  ^^^ed.  J 
heave  of  a  slumberinH^^^^  "l«  barely  perceptible 
charm;   it  was  graceftdtolT-.      •   ^*  "'^  *«amy  to  a 
begins  to  sicken  S^Sefl^"  H*  "*  '''^'''  *«  '^e 
the  for«,  . ,  a  necSS^l^u    T  "°"°*°°««  witt 
fIsothr«.ahintofmelan^oS-tof*J:r?°°*!^"«:    '* 
to  be  gay.    It  was  as  though  Si  th«f    ^^ '"**»"'«J 
woitaUy  lovely  in  the  essM~  tZh      •     "^  """^  ^ti- 
had  concentrated  its  st^^,     *k!  "««t<*nth  century 
of  the  twentieth,  tiSfJ  ^^Z"^  ^^  "^ 
however,  that  the  decade  w^^lt    ^  ^"^-    Now, 
of  revolt.    On  the  ^  ^^^2  ^^  ^'^  indication^ 
eye  of  the  hostess  a^d^S^  ^',  "°^  "^^"^  ^^  the 
bizarre  little  dips  andSlnTSl^  ^^  ^"^^  ^"^  to 

landish  names.^„g„,SgTn^SSr"^  ''^^*- 
Claude  stood  alone  h«,«.n,        "^om. 

floral  archer  SaS  wJo  w«°^  ^%^''«'  «»«««*« 
observed.    In  reXh^„°  ^     ""l*.  "^^"^  °^  ^>^8 
to  which  he  had  pa«L  teZd  th    *^  *°  i^'*^  ^^  d«g«l 
impulse.     In  R^f^rSe^  T^'^uP''*^""'^*^ 
beauties.    He  was  raSier  r^%  ^  *^  ^  c«ne  tf 
the  young  men  and  Z^g^l^^'^.,.  ^'^  ^^  to 
gated  whirlpool,  as  w^^toToS  X^^  "?J"^  ^"^^ 
dance,  were  sitting  or  recliSna^  Tu    '  ''*^«'  '^th  the 
and  cushions  had'bl^l^^^  ^^i^^.  ''here  rugs 
felt  a  distinct  superioritv^S^v  „Jr^.,l^''^'«'<».  he 
stage,  while  he  ^  p^  ^Z  Z      '^  '"  ^^  ^^^dish 
girls.  w,-th  their  Par^Tfr^^  ?',^-.    ^o  the  pretty 
hves,  Rosie.  with  Wp^CS  ^t,^^  "^^^^^^^^  idle 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

^HaZ:  .^*^T?^.  *>****»»>•  «wt«ia  pity  for  tho*  to 
whom  this  wrt  of  thing  WM  reaUy  .  partime;  he  ^^ 
it  as  one  for  whom  pwtmies  had  lost  their  meaning  aad 
who  would  be  m  some  sense  taking  a  farewell 
.l'"*.."!"*''  breathed  out  its  last  drowsy  cadence  and 
^J'Jr^^J^^^^  it«W  into  a  series  ofSm;^^ 
«b«dianr  eddies.  There  was  a  decentralizing  movS 
toward  the  rugs  «»d  cushions  on  the  steps,  or  to  the  seclu- 
«on  of  seats  skilfuUy  emboweml  amid^Ups  of  S 

tf.7h«J^  r^-    '  ^i""^  ^"^  white-gloved  hands  at 

the  base  of  their  spinal  columns,  bent  in  graceful  con- 

.  versational  postures.    A  few, pairs  of  atti^ti^^„ 

people  contmu,^  to  pa<*  th^s  floor.    Claude  rLS 

wha*  he  was     He  remained  where  he  was  parUybe«^!e 

he  Imdn't  dedded  what  else  to  do.  and  partJyb^u^hi^ 

•J^^fy?  had  i^sJed  out  the  one  girl  hTthe^  who 

^Stw.  "^"^^  *^*  ^  not'^smbodiedTe^ 

When  first  he  saw  her  she  was  standing  beside  the 

Gjmrdon    ounUun  in  conve«ation  with  a  ^yCg  „C 

The  fact  that  the  young  man  was  his  friiid  Ch^^ 

taought  her  directly  within  CUude's  dnde  and  ^ 

that  ^t  of  emulation  which  five  minutes  earh^w^ 

bought  he  had  outlived.    The  girl  was  adjust^  ^e! 

or  coquettishly,   but  with  a  perfecUy  straightfomird 

J„-m't!"*ti!°'7  <*t'''^^  ""^^^  ^t  ^W*  She  noticed 
^  by  the  fact  that  she  glanced  toward  him  twio^ln 
rapid  successwn,  after  which  Cheever  glanced  toward  Wi^ 
^ck  bvTil'''.'^  J1'"  '^'  she  had  been  suffidenti; 
^d  tLfS-  .  ''"  "^*'  ^^  judged  that  BiUy 
^^^••^"J°  Tf  ""I*  P^o«able  epithet  i 
awful  ass,  m  order  to  keep  her  attention  on  himself. 
172 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

J«  tUt  •ppwently  he  didn't  !■»««««   /^ 
S^S^^  in  CUude..*rS/*XK^ 

young  lady's  intewst.  Wthw  ™".P'»««ly  rouaed  the 
«valier  she  «t«n^  CJ^  S  °"  "*? '™  °^  »•« 
•auntewd  by.  She  saunte^'  ^.J  '™'«"''"8  slightly, 
««rio»ty  thit  s^ed  to^^."""^  •  KnRering  look  rf 
«WsKfe  had  SeJ^S^JT*,'*f  *=»«*•    Never 

hai«  the  cI««ct«Sc^"of  tt?rir  "^hh^""  P"^' 
cwtury.  It  was  neither  JvJ^hI  ?  °^  ^^  twentieth 
but  it  was  unwn^^r  SZ  ""'^  ""^  ^"-assertive. 
Claude  it  was  a  ^^i^^K'^^  unabashed.  Po; 
regp^^^  now  expenence.  calhng  out  in  him  a  new 

they  hved  in  the  d^  S  hLrL*^°^u'''"^'*«««e 
themselves  geograpWc^^\?;  ''*^'"  ^  tillage-felt 
wise  policy  to^  to  te  J^ht  ^°'!-  "«  ^°"nd  it 
toward  his  host^  »4fh  J^^r  *'  ^""^  therefore  feU  back 
•tecomti^  ^ot^T^T"^  ^°'  "er  schemed 
Darhng  «lled  XtuK';^;,°!-^  '^  ^^^  Mr.. 

MaJ^T'^*"'"-    I -^t  to  induce  Mr.  Claude 

PuSng  teliS^^'r^teenth  century  was 

of  the  ban,UeSrjhf  ^*^'*?  fwooningX^^ 
to  the  Boston.  cSef^i^i^'^Hoffmam,,'- adapted 
twentieth.  ^^'^  '""'^  swaying  with  the 

They  had  not  much  to  sav     wk-* 
in  each  other  was  giS^  Li^^**^'"*«^  ""ey  felt 

,.  Ves;  for  the  last  five  years  " 

Do  you  like  being  back?" 
Theanswerwasdoubtful.    "Rather.   Porsomet 


173 


s  things." 


MICROCOPY   >ESOLUTION   lESI   CHAUT 

(ANSI  ond  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1.0    [rl^  1^ 

I  ^  m 
m 

6 


_^  APPLIED  INA^GE    In, 

— ^j  1653  Eost   Moin   Street 

S"-!^  Rochester.   N-*  yo.k         1*609       i;SA 

r.^Si  (7'6)   482  -  0300  -  Phone 

^=  (7;6)   288  -  59B9  -  Fa» 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

Then,  as  though  to  explain  this  kck  of  enthusiasm, 

Everybody  looks  alike."    She  qualified  this  by  adding 

You  don  t.  ^' 

•'Neither  do  you,"  he  stated,  in  the  matter-of-fact  tone 

which  he  felt  to  be  suited  to  the  piquanUy  matter-of-fact 

m  her  style. 

^    It  was  a  minute  or  two  before  either  of  them  spoke  again 
You  ve  got  a  brother,  haven't  you?    My  father's  his 
guardian  or  something."    " 

^Assenting  to  these  statements,  Claude  said  further 
He  couldn't  come  to-night  because  he's  goine  to  be 
mamed  on  Thursday." 

"To  that  Miss  WiUoughby,  isn't  it?"    A  jerky  pause 
was  followed  by  a  jerky  addition:  "I  think  she's  niw  " 
Yes,  she  is;   top-hole.     So's  my  brother." 
She  threw  back  her  head  to  fling  him  up  a  smile  that 
struck  him  as  adorably  straightforward.     "I  like  to  hear 
one  brother  speak  of  another  like  that.    You  don't  often  " 
'Oh,  weU,  every  brother  couldn't,  you  know." 
They  had  circled  and  reversed  more  than  once  before 
she  sighed:    ' I  wish  I  had  a  brother— or  a  sister.    It's  an 
awful  bore  being  the  only  one." 

"Better  to  be  the  only  one  than  one  of  too  many  " 
More  nJinutes  had  gone  by  in  the  suave  swinging  of 
their  steps  to  Offenbach's  somnolent  measures  when  she 
asked,  abruptly,  "Do  you  skate?" 
"Sometimes.     Do  you?" 
"I  go  to  the  Cohseum." 

Claude's  next  question  sKpped  out  with  the  daring 
simplicity  he  knew  how  to  employ.  "Do  you  go  on 
particular  days?" 

"  I  generaUy  go  on  Tuesdays."  If  she  was  moved  by  an 
afterthought  it  was  without  flurry  or  apparent  sense  of 
having  committed  an  indiscretion.  "Not  every  Tues- 
day, '  she  said,  quietly,  and  dropped  the  subject  there. 

When   a  few  minutes  later,  she  was  resting  on  a  rug 
thrown  down  on  the  steps,  with  Claude  posed  gracefully  by 
174 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

Do  you  see  Claude?"  ^    °  ^  undertone. 

buf"atrr^[  rhTeyXS^s^ffi'""?  °^  ^'^^  ^^««<^«. 
summing  up  of  siPT,ifinnl^  sufficient  to  take  in  the 
husbandMaL      ^^<=^t'  "autteiable  things  i„  w 


I  < 


*  I 
I 


CHAPTER  XIX 
D  Y  the  time  Thor  and  Lois  had  returned  from  their 

be  w.  fightin,  haSru,i:r£'bet?;o?t'^ir4'o^ 

^.    It  was.  nevertheless,   the  Claude  who  w^tlmt 

^^n/tTT  !?  "^^  ''^''  b"'^^^'^  timid  faqSry 
ooncenung  the  situation  as  it  affected  Rosie  Pay.    Ha^r 

a^3,y°"  *°  ^^  ^  -i"-*^-'  Th-  ^S^t 
"Done  anything  yet?" 

In  the  Uttle  smoking-room  that  had  been  Len's  and 
was  now  Thor-s-Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willoughby^vW^^tS 
ah^y  to  their  petit  trou  pas  cW-they  p„5^!,rtW 
agar,  m  silence.  It  had  been  the  wish  Jf  bZbridet^d 
tadegroom  hat  Claude  should  dine  with  th™  tS 
second  evening  at  home.  Thor  had  manoeav^  f^ 
these  few  imnutes  alone  with  his  brother  in  ordw^  ^et 
the  information  he  was  now  seeking.    PcJ^  Ss  o;^  !!* 

wanted  to  feel  convinced  that  he  hadn't  acted  Ltihr 
that  m  m^ng  he  had  made  no  mistake.    There  would 

ft^Sr?h2  W '"•  '^  ":  *^^*  C^"^^  andXilS 
round  theu-happmess  m  each  other,  and  that  in  what  hp 

^^  had  don^there  had  been  no  otter  wIvMHe 
^ed  that  Unde  Sim's  pietistic  reft^in  Jo^d^tlL^ 

Stn,-^^    ^'  ^^*^^  ^  *^  ^'d's  leisure;    but 

nather  did  he  want  to  be  afraid  of  his  o»m  haste.    He^ 

176 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

"Isn't  it  getting  to  be  about  time?" 

through  in  my  craTay?"       ^     ^  was  to  put  this  thing 
"Oh,  quite  so;  quite  so." 

;;Because  I  thought  you  were." 
^Wdl.  even  J  I  am.  I  don't  see  any  ^.ason  for  nuiing 

;:N^any  oftLer^^^/i^^^  darlings'," 
"i^^-  ttv  ^  r  r*^°^'-'  -^-'t  theyr 

wt|^tJnS.,;i?^-,f-  ^<^^-  I 

,No;  butldaresayRosiehas." 
DarL"g^.?*^'°°''T^--    I  don't  talk  to  Rosie  about  the 

Ati^.i^s2:o?^?troS.'^dbo'^*'^  -""^  ^*- 

It's  no  more  unjust  W  R^^.  i'^^,*''^™P°rtant- 

thuik  I'm  up  to?"  ""s  urepiace.       What  do  you 

dJt  W.'"^"^-    "^^  ^^*  I'«  «^<1  of  is  that  ,<«, 

•'•I  d^t"^  ^  ""^  *°  '"^^  R<^«  in  the  lurch-" 
Idon  t  thmk  you  mean  it-no!"  ^^^ 

..i?*°'  "^  y°"  think  I'd  do  it—" 
The  surest  way  not  to  do^it  is  to-^o  the  other  thing. " 


ik:\, 


'%: 

S 

THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

.'.'  Ji" ''°  }:^^  °^"  ^'^K  when  I'm  ready-not  bofore.- 
..  A  "?1-    "^^^^'^  ^'"**  ^^^  ^  thought  would  happen  " 
And  this  IS  just  what  I  thought  would  happen— that 
bee  use  you'd  put  up  that  confounded  money  you'd  trv 
to  make  me  feel  I  was  bought.    WeU,  I  m  not  bought. 
See,     Rather  than  be  bribed  into  doing  what  I  mean  to 
do  anyhow  I'll  not  Jo  it  at  all." 
"Oh,  if  you  mean  to  do  it  anyhow—" 
Claude  rounded  on  his  brother  indignantly.    "Say 
ThOT.  do  you  think  I'm  going  to  be  a  damn  scoundrel?'' 
Do  you  think  you'd  be  a  damn  scoundrel  i^'  vou  didn't 
put  It  through?" 

"I  should  be  worse.    Even  a  damn  scoundrel  can  be 
caUed  a  man,  and  I  should  have  forfeited  the  name 
1  here !    Does  that  satisfy  you  ?' ' 
"Up  to  a  point— yes." 

Claude  sniffed.     "  You're  such  a  queer  chap,  Thor,  that 

..Xt  ^}'^^  y°"  "P  t°  a  point  I  ought  to  be  content." 

Oh,  I  m  all  right,  Claude.    I  only  hoped  that  you'd  be 

able  to  go  on  with  it  for  some  better  reason  than  just— 

just  not  to  be  a  scoundrel." 

"Oxxi  Lord,  old  chap!   I'm  crazy  about  it.     If  Rosie 

^'i!7S!\'i'"™  ^^  ^^  ^'^  ^  ^^  happiest  man  aUve  " 

Oh?  So  Rosie  hums  and  haws,  does  she?  Whatabout?" 
.,.•  ■7      .    ^^^^  confounded  family  of  hers.    Must  do 
this  for  the  father,  and  that  for  the  mother,  and  something 
else  for  the  beastly  cub  that's  in  jail.    You  can  see  the 
position  that  puts  me  in." 
"But  if  you're  really  in  love  with  her—" 
"I'm  really  in  love  with  her.    I'm  not  with  them     I 
never  pretended  to  be.    But  if  I  have  to  marry  the  bunch 
the  cub  and  all — "  ' 

Thor  oMldn't  help  thinking  of  the  opening  he  would 
have  had  here  for  his  own  favorite  kinds  of  activity. 
Inen  that  11  give  you  a  chance  to  help  them." 
"Not  so  stuck  on  helping  people  as  you,  old  chap. 
Want  help  myself." 

178 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

"But  you've  got  help,  whereas  they've  got  no  one. 
You'U  be  a  godsend  to  them."  B  >•  no  one. 

S'^^'!  ^"^^  "^^^  ^'"^  "^"^  °f-    Who  wants  to  be  a 
godsend  to  people? '  «*^  uc  » 

"I  should  think  any  one  would." 

'.'  ?/'?  u  BPdsend  to  them,  it  shows  what  ihey  must  be  "• 
»h,^r  "n<^fv^ue  yourself.  Besides,  you  knew 
what  they  were  when  you  began— " 

pen2t''^^'*^'^^°''    ^'^'^'t'^P"-     It-it  hap- 
Thor's  eyes  foUowed  his  brother  as  the  latter  bega  i 
moving  restlessly  about  the  room.    "WeU,  you're^jd 
It  happened,  aren't  you?"  '<=  B^a 

Claude  stopped  abruptly.  "Of  course  I  am.  But 
what  stumps  me  is  why  you  should  be.  See  here;  would 
you^be  as  keen  on  It  if  I  were  going  to  many  s<ine  one 

^,ort°^"fJ^^  *  question  Thor  had  to  choose  his 
words.  I  d  be  ]ust  as  keen  on  it;  only  if  you  were  going 
to  marry  some  one  else,  some  one  in  circumstances  more 
hkj  your  own  you  wouldn't  require  so  much  of  my-of 
my  sympathy."  •* 

^J1^^"t",  ^^  '°°'"  ^^""^^  admitted,  starting  for  the 
„?^  ,  u  7  Z*?  ^^  *  ^°°^  '^^P  at  heart-top-hole, 
of  awse  -but  I  shouldn't  have  supposed  you  w^  « 
good  as  all  that.    I'll  be  darned  if  I  shcmldi" 

Thor  thought  it  best  not  to  inquire  too  precisely  into 
tte  suggestions  miphed  by  "all  that."  contenting  4iself 
with  asking,  "When  may  I  tell  Lois?"  b  ^^xa 

thS^  r^^f^^  °^^  Ws  ^<«lder  as  he  passed  into 
the  haU.       TeU  her  myself— perhaps  now." 

he7iJ^^f^!'u  ^^^Z-^-^^^  «  the  drawing-room,  though 

i  ^  w  f  ■  ?'r^  °°  ^^^  P°^*  °^  doing  so  once 
or  twice,  but  sheered  off  to  something  else 

"Awful  queer  feUow.  Thor.    Can  you  make  him  out?" 

Lms  was  domg  something  with  white  silk  or  thread 

which  she  hooked  m  and  cut  with  a  crocheting  implement. 

179 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

idioms  may  bothi-  yr-  **  ""^  '''^''  ««» 

his^K;  mXa  i3  '^?:^.''"'''^'  ''^  ''^^  - 
neck  and  head  l^th^iX'-  P'^J^'^K  movement  of  his 

ably^    "Weth?srj!iri:.?*^^-<-f°n- 
.^  ,,But  they  say  Greek  richly  repays  those  who  study 

wrh?i.;s,«  "^Kir  ?^k™°°  ^- 

He  was  o.nm,;  L         a  oee  in  his  bonnet  about—?" 
noSic^"  f'abc^t  Fa;  'th  '^^  *°  '^  "P  to  his  an- 
The  words  ;oSc^eoT^f=  l'"' he  <x«ildn^ 

have  done  it  if  Thor  haxt^t  h»»^  V^-  Iv-  ^°^^   ^'^ 
mader^ron'TdSe.'*  ^V^Z'l^^ 

H^'S'ti'^i^ytL'Telt  ^  '"""'^*-    ^*'^  '-*-''^- 
«"h  ScS'^;  "^"^P^  ^«  <'°-'t  help  them  as 

'■w:iiX';;;"""'='"''''"*^*°-  i^-owthat.- 

toS^ti'SnJILni^^^tP -f  loolced  vaguely 

I»se.      1  dont  know.    Son.etimes  I  think  he  do^t 
I  So 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

gotiie  right  way  to  work.    And  yet  it  can  hardly  be  that 

Cmam^  no  one  could  go  to  work  with  a  better  h^'.*' 

Claude  was  referring  inwardly  to  Rosie's  five  thousand 

a  year  and  perceiving  that  it  created  as  many  dSS 

She  received  this  pensively.     "Perhaps." 

♦»,w1/^-  '^°I'^  "^^"^S  sent  Claude  to  see  Rosie  on 
timfoUowing  afternoon.  It  was  not  his  repdar  dTy  f™ 
commg  so  that  his  appearance  was  a  matto  of  hLn^ 
terror  t«np^ed  only  by  the  fact  that  he  otught  ft^ 

Sed  the^f  «^^-t™^  t°  town.  Fay  rardy 
returned  then  before  six  or  seven,  so  thtr  with  the  earlv 
twihghts  th«-e  was  time  for  an  enchanted  hour  in  tte 
^r^^u    ^^^  f '°^'"2  ^d  the  blossoms  anTthe  Ian! 

IwJ  T'Z  ^  %'°^^PWlter  might  in  his  veins. 
It  was  the  kind  of  meeting  to  be  clandestine.    Secrecy 
was  a  necessary  ingredient  in  its  deliciousness.    The^^ 

Tosa  was  the  term.    It  should  remain  under  the  rose  where 

man  s  life  and  not  a  daily  staple.    That  was  somltWne 

2V£  T"^  '"v""-'^''-  '"^^  ^  "^^'^  lifers  f 

bi  whlh  ^J,^''-.'*  P"'!^^'^^-    ^^"=  ''^  a  kind  of 

exqiasite.    Mysteries  were  seductive  because  thev  wer^ 

SSr  in'tl  •^T/^  "^  P-clai:red'':nVe"! 
P^ded  m  the  market-place.    Rode  in  her  workine- 

^^T  •''"  '""-'^  ^"^  ">«  «™-t  whitrs 

of  ritS^h.rt  ^  ^  S^^fy-  ^  *  '''^^-    It  was  the  pity 

m  the  state  in  which  she  met  so  beautifuUv  all  the  r,^ 

sXS^s^/'n"    Todragherout^rpufh^'into 
sphere  she  wasn't  meant  for,  and  endow  h^  with  fiv^ 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

thousand  dollars  a  year  was  lilro  »,~„- 

glory  of  her  own  ^Zt^^TJZJrl^^'!-  '"^ 

He  grew  conscious  of  this  aTh^  =k     from  the  water, 
they  touched  on  the  r^actic^l     L  f  ^^^  t"^  ^^^  "*"""' 
practical  in  order  to^S  Jthin  tC^"^  he  avoided  the 
which  his  love  was  not^^I*   But  at  Z^if  '°'"'"  °^ 
sary  to  speak  of  the  futu«.  »n-f  I     ^^  "  ^^  "<«»- 

™aidXwe^Ter%'r'a^''tS"£^ ''f/''  P°°^ 
walk  nor  dance  nor  flv  =),«^  ij   "  ,         '*"'''  "either 

was  no  den^n"^  thjfact  ftf  ^^°"^  ''°^'^'"--  There 
She  floundi^ed^l^?s^^tl.^;; '"*'«  Rosif  «°^<^««J. 
on  a  scale  of  which=hr>,!^  "'^''"^  *°  ^^  "^th  life 

Claude  hL  kl^^y  dtel'ril^'^'^""'^'  ^"'  ^  *"  ^Wch 
she  was  pretSsf  S°SS  ^y  wTarh"'''*;?;.  ''°'  "'^^ 

them,  when  they've  no  one  elL?''  ""'^  ««  I  leave 

weSdlP  "''  ""^^''  "'^^^  ^-  y-  P-Pose  that 

bef^^.trith'LnL!:  "'^^•"^  -  '''-"y  defeite 

always  lo^ngL^'oS.L'^'r  f.  ^'J  "'^'*  ^^ 
sense  results,  Rosie  tSS  »„  '^'*  ^'^  *"  common- 
that  she  had  Jven  ^  aU^t^^nTr'^-  ^heshowed 
she  expressed  herself^^hhe^^"",^  't'"""^^-  *°"«h 
in  the  most  embowered  «cSTh'  hot  J  ^^  were  sitting 
-in  a  little  shrine  she  kenT^  .  hothouse  could  afford 
of  their  meetings     i!h?l^-''^V^"'''f°''th^P"nwse 

though  heS^dilfV'™  '^"'^  ^'^  her  hakds. 
him  as  she  Skr^hf3^^'^^;,?^^-"-e- averted  from' 

see  that  in  marTyinBh  J^„         t  .    ^^'^  *°  '«*  him 
down  too  low!^^^  ^^  ^^  ''°^'^"  '  be  letting  himself 

183 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

faltJi'"'''Thfr"">.'"^!!.'"  Schoolhouse  Lane,"  she 
••Wrfii"'  ^'PP»*^  «sed  to  live  in  it." 

ss  itt^  """"^ «..  ■■  w.  codd  g„  i 

He  let  her  go  on. 

wouldnt    mind!  — and    keeo    an   eJZ  iT  !^-^      T*^ 
Mot...    ever    so   much^XS/^Ur  t'S   Sd 

;'Then  why  couldn't  we  go  and  settle  in  Paris'" 
thin?^TWs°flr  "".•  ^.^-l^^-'hafs  not  the  only 
n.usf  JoSa^/Sr, -ip^^^^-f  the  business,    'l 

I  ^PPOse  If  we  were  married  he  wouldn't  do  ihatf" 
Though  he  kept  silence,  his  nervous,  fastidious  sutv-r 

SwS'toTeerr"^:    Why  couldn't  heTa^C 
S^TwnJ  K       '^   -5     P°'E"^t  joy  Of  touching  her,  of 

on  hun  by  the  brx>ther  who  wished  him  well.     It  was  stm 
Srir^^nltttrca?^  "'''-^  -  ^°---" 

^^i5!£S^t^:ie?t;^^ 

"^ChSf^ould?-    ^/i««»^d  have  been  Strephon  to 

S^wf.  '* ''°'^'^,  i-^^e  been  perfect.    But  he  couldn't  be 

Strephon;  he  could  be  nothing  but  a  neurotic  tw^feth! 

183 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE  ANGELS 

^vuhout  quite  knowingX"l5fdTr'^"'^  '"'^  t°  "^X. 
and  me  being  married  ?••'        ^  ^°'  '=^«*  «Peak  of  y^ 

--'-ghhiso^ashe'^'SeJrJr^p,;'  seemed  to 

?he  felt  his  arm  rel«  hs  emh      '"^  t«^-strick«  as 
TW  should  have  ZXl^^^-^'^^^  >«" 

don't  rcrilS'4':^St"^*«^-  "^^'Claude. 
^  trae  you  wer*  m«s-S  wJ  '''^^  ^"^  "^d  the 
<»«e  back  again.  If  you^diJ^u'***^r^''^y  ^d  "ever 
couldn't  live.    I  should  S^mtilf*^*  ^  '^°^''  'J^^"    I 

There  fo  lowed  oob  nfTiT  ™J^^- 
Claude  was  spS^'S^t^  ^^'.^'.^^^^^  ^  -Wch 
joyed.    The  pleasure  ^t,  ^  ^P"^  ^^  specially  e^ 
\'-  «>  that  by  ^i^^^h^^^^te  that  he  prx.^^^ 

^bJ-iC^^rsS^'.aaudeendeavo^ 
silence,  but  not  in  bein?  nnl^T^      ?*  succeeded  in  the 


THE    SIDE    OF   THE    ANGELS 

"nest's  SS^.U%"t«  "  •'»»"'  "  i-~  i" 

emotions  it  had  been  delidrs.   wonLuI     {t  ^1^ 
him.     It  was  a  sensation  in  itself  to  be  loved  like  that      rt 

m^TurbJ  S  r^^cSent-^Srstl-O.: 
nies  swept  through  the  ^lian  haip  Tf  h  r^wTa^ 

=n2e%-h^ri-£^-^;^ 

13 


i^ 


CHAPTER  XX 

Phisticated  MenZrhTiriJt^^^  and  their  so- 
ticated  than  Claude  htoLf  ^fl^r  ^^  ""^  "^P^^- 
had  traveled  more  LdL^p;,^^-^!'^  "^  »°™  "oney. 
But  Claude  ta^Ci^^CSJlT? ""  "  ^"''^  '^^rf^' 
^s  and  go  beyond  tha^  VZ  JS?  "'^  ^*^<J- 
Portunity;  and  opporS  to^  tZ^  ^"^  ^^e  op- 
Ifn  of  good  antS^lke  wSf  ^^  ''f^^  ^mer- 
He  never  t<x,.  in  that  f^  S  dSS^  ^"^^'^  -^ *^«- 

He  was  glad  that  ho  hoj     ^<=ariy  as  on  th:s  night, 
at  Ub|e^  J,t  *^i«if -^^b^la^  nexti  Elsie 
m  his  being  there  at  aU     Conv^lr^  treachery  to  Rosie 
judgment,  he  felt  l^e  t^hf^/' S  ***  "s'^*  °f  Thor's 
«»»e  to  her  with  ^A^LVf'  "^t*  "e  should 
owed  her  any  exn WhW    r  °"  '"^  ''P^-    Not  that  he 
Considering  LAtZ^^'^f  °""  ^'  °f  view 
drawal   aUowed   to^S^J^V    ^PP"^  and  with- 
PossibiUty  of  playa^r't'^y"^?  ^people,    and   the 

mutual  comp4S^t  ^ti'T  r*^  T'  ?"""«'  "* 
ever;  but  the  fact  remSn^  tw  ^^^^^^'"'^'^hat- 
measur^of  wiffi„g„es^^fj^J^Je  was  expressing  a 

the  mute  antagonism  thatlri^^,!llf '^'°  "^  '"^^ing 
families.  As  far  as  that  w^t^  t  T  ^^  '^spective 
to  the  Darlings-  but  J^'  ^^  ^^"^  ^«  ^as  unwelcome 
<=^edoverhef^*ts'he5sTh;*°°\*f  ^'^^'«  ^^ 
fing.  ItwascSlSat^Se'Zhf'''"^'"^'"'' 
h^  a  point  more  impoiWt  s^  :? i^""*  ""^  °^^  *«^ 
ro  the  Claude  who  ^^^^^  t^^^lleTatte 


I       1 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

couldn't  m^ge  her;  but  to  the  Claude  who  might  be  there 
v^h^her  thrr.^  than  the  gzatification  <rf  fastidi^ 
sooal  tastes,  and  for  the  moment  that  Claude  had  some 
^  °f  .the  ascendant.  It  was  that  Claude  who  spoke 
whra,  after  dmner.  the  men  bad  rejoined  the  ladies 
Your  mother  doesn't  like  my  coming  here." 

Elsie  tew  hm,  one  of  her  frank,  flying  glances.     "WeU, 
she  s  asked  you,  hasn't  she?" 

He  smiled.     "She  only  asked  me  at  the  last  minute 

I  can  see  some  other  fellow  must  have  dropped  out  "       ' 

You  can  see  it  because  it's  a  dinner-party  of  elderly 

wW^^*^''P'?'**°^-  That  constantly  happens 
whai  people  entertain  as  much  as  we  do.  But  it  iai't 
a  shght  to  be  asked  to  come  to  the  rescue.  It's  a  Z! 
^r<^«.      "Tf  ■  ^  ^^^  *°  ^°  ^^  "^^  you 

count  them  as  real  fnends." 
He  insisted  on  his  point     "I  don't  suppose  it  was  her 


♦J^°"  "!?"  '*  ^^  "^^'^  ^^  ^^  ^  >t  '^.  it  comes  to 
tte  same  thing.    She  asked  you.    She  needn't  have  don^ 

1^^!a^  ^^^  i^^''  ^^  •*•  "=«*  *«  didn't  want  to." 
He^added,  lowermg  his  voice  significantly,  "And  she  was 

w™  tf^  u™!^  ^  "^^^  ^^  eaze.  which  rested  on 
m^W^'^i^^  '^''^-  Everything  about  her  was 
miatedied.  She  was  free  from  the  conventional  manners 
of  maidendom,  not  as  one  who  has  been  emancipated  from 
aem,  but  as  one  who  has  never  had  them.  She  might 
have  belonged  to  a  generation  that  had  outgrown  the 
need  for  them,  as  perhaps  she  did.    Shyness,  coyness,  and 

D'^  T^u  ^T^t^  "°  P^  °^  he'  e^uipiient; 
but,  <m  the  other  hand,  she  was  cleai-<Jear  with  a  kind 
of  CTystalhne  clearness,  in  eyes,  in  complexion,  and  in  the 
staccato  quahty  of  her  voice. 
"She's  right— how?" 

187 


.  t 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 


I'm— I'm  not 


ir^T^!^"^  '  °^^*-'t  to  come. 

Do  you  mean ?*'     cu 

embarrassed,  but  only  to  fodT^'  T  ^"^  *«  ^« 
her  eyes  on  his  ^th  a  cZor  he  ^dT''  ^^'  ^^' 
reciprocate.  "Do  you  mew  that  ■  '^°  "°*ing  but 
where?"  ^       ™*®°   **at  you're  bound— eke- 

^Q^^^-    "That's  it." 

wander  vaSy'^oJ^S;'" S? ^*' ^"'"^  ^^  ^ 
other  guests  w^  Lted  "^f^""^-  about  which  the 
settees  against  the  white  PrlrffnT^T  i^"^  °"  g^^ed 
young  man  played  C^Xlt^^Rf^f"-  ^^^  - 
piano  m  the  far  comer  NntTf  "^  ''^  &*  on  a  grand 
itself,  but  in  the  l^lqu^  L^  -^  '^^  »"sic-1Z. 
people  could  talH.  iT^n^^^''^^' ^^e  two  young 

nervousness  with  which  Se  ta^w  h  ^^  "'^7  m  the 
the  palm  of  her  left  h^A  ^^^^^  "^"^l^  against 
face.     "I^  g,^  y„„,^^  ^j^  Her.eyes  came  back  to  his 

^^^t^'^A'tZ.Z^^  "^-  «^^  -ght 
h^V^S-^^-o^^^i^-that  I  wouldn't  have 

terofa-well.ofama::retiSi'r    She's  the  daugh- 

But^rTa^:^-^-^--- 


quickly:    "No;    I 


saw  in  his  face  she  went 


HUK^y:    "xvo;    I  won't  aot  ,       iT  ""^  went  on 

Ofcour^you'^i„,::°;iS>e^7^H•^,°?"'*  ^-- 
a  man  with  your"-^han^  IT./  *'''"I'  "  "  splendid- 
itself.  but  she  madTIV^^S^.  ^'^  ^°'^.'^^'  ^^^ested 
to  fall  in  love  with  a  gll  iftTat^'  "^  ^'^  ^"^  ^"^"^ 


a  bnght  glow  inner  face  to  which 


i88 


he  tried 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

world,  but  could  say  to  iS  h^  ^  "Z"?*  «^'  ^  the 
centuxy  freedom  C^eSifi^'^.^^'^'  *-«ti«th- 
I  shouldn't  come."  "'maai.      Now  you  see  why 

She  gave  a  little  assentinif  nod     "V«.       u 
better  not-for  a  whae-not  ^  J^fJ  ^^^^  y^'^ 
By  and  by,  I  dare  s'y\^2T^  ""  °^'  «*  any  rate, 
-mother  basis-^dth^3!^  ^  everything  on  another 

his'S:r'.^Nne^isrs"^'''f=  ^*^«^-^ 

basis."  .wesnant.    There  won't  be  any  other 

She  took  this  with  Jim-  i,c.„i    • 
not.    Idon^^ewe^      r*^;.  "W«".  Perhaps 

change  of  tone,  as  Z  2ved  aty'f^',^*^.  f^^  » 
-d  talk  to  M..  Boy..    st^S  I'^^.tt;  ;t^ -- 

He  thoughMt  spl^^d  Ci  H^/*'^  ^P'^'*''-" 
thatifhehadpi^hTs^rn;-  ««  ^It  positive  now 
it-he  might  o^y  W  wi^'^i.^f^^toP'^ 
floor  not  as  guest,  bJtTmS  ^""^  '^'  '^^^'^ 
culties  in  the  way  that  <^&?^«7^  ^^  "°  ^- 
and  Elsie  had  bwTof  fZ^J^  ^^  ^  overcome,  if  he 

We  a  good  fiftXla^aTji;^  "^^ilT'  ^^  "°^'^ 
there  was  no  other  word  for  ,>  'u  '  '^^  splendid; 
brilliant  future  fS  ^^'*„f  ^t,'' o  ^-^"^  "P  *"« 
counting  the  world  wdlLt  ^  ^°^^  Fay-and 

he^vrj^hlt^Tt- -^-.  '-  ^  ^^^^  as 
come.    He  must  k»>n  I,;;   !1L    !  ^^^^^  moment  to  have 
He  was  flaS''^  £^„*'  Tl*  "^  *  ««"««^ 
Darling-sheared yeuleteti'l''^'?  ^"*  °^  ^J^" 
to  love  him  acted  onL^r^iXtSl^r^^^^ 


1^^^'^ 


p 


m  ^ 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

she  had  married  some  on^Jl1^''f^;<^<i  even  wh^ 
fbmiastbe  m^gniSc^T'^  ^2^<1  ^eep  her  dream 

tie  wmmng  of  her  w^^h^^.  ^nr^^^  *°<^  «"  "-at 
the  way  he  thriUed  wblnT  T^^l^'  ""  ^e''  i*  by 
^bling  against  his,^l?  td^tL°l^°^'''  ^y 
2ui^  '*  •'>'  *he  wild  tiaS^^'^  *^*  '^*«™«»> 

She  had  shuddered;  but  of  co,,^^'  u^*  "*■  ^e  thought 
she  to  shudder  at?  He^^^'^^^^^'tJ  What  C 
qu^on  ev«y  time  tS  CL^^''*  "P  against  tS 

ever  possible  it  might  be  t^^  ^  unreasoning.  Hc^ 
was  always  ^ad^fo  s^St^r*  ^°^^^d  a  C 

^,TT'°r  was  "acting  queSir-^j."  "^"^  "^  R°sie's 
^  of  that  queenaess  ibi^iL,fT  u^  ^  ^P^^" 
that  no  one  who  knew  Thwa^^      °  ^  <=^t.    Of 
«t  the  same  time  keep  hT^''^  ""^ ''"«'i°n  and 
~u^^'t  deny  that  he  ^jSo^°'>,«e°se.    Qaude 
analyze  his  passion  in  that  tS^I  ^*  "^^^  he  came  to 
a  dread  lest  his  own^s^*!?^^  ^e  found  it  nothing  but 
»atch«l  away  H  '^"'^  ^"t^^w  Rosie"'^^ 
ova-  what  he  shouiu  ha^difljT^  ^  diUy-daUying 
of  the  sacrifice  he  wouM  te^'finJ?*  ^ad  been  aiZd 
■  ^^e.  as  he  x«Uized  ^Sl'^.^^^^e,  without 
wwthit.    NolaterttaTt^!^  •  ^*  ^°^e  would  be 
and  a  wedding-^jT  ^^S'^^'T J?*  would  buy  a  h^ 
PJ^.    Befo«i;S^2^,^'!'r^herin^ 
God  knew  there  were  a  ^ofS?!?'^  dfficulties-^d 
selves  away.  '*hemt-would  smooth  them- 

Asheleftthetramsaratthevillaeete^,-       u 

igo     vuiage  temunus  he  was 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

«5o  excited  to  im  hn^^  .» 

•^d  went  on  tt^^^lT' f  he  passed  his  own  gate 
«^d  hear  Thor's^^^^'  7^/°*  yet  late.    He 
«>tted  hta,  and  couW  foU^!  ^^Z^  «1  "^e  maid  ad! 
bs  overcoat  ^d  silk  ha  Wwd  tl^.'^'l't  he  took  off 
the  tapestried  chairs.    He^   f!? '^tJ^^J' <»  one  of 
straightened  his  cravat  befL^.f"'^^  *hem  as  he 
wh;te^t«,at.  and  s^^^'e^  SfiT'  ^^  '^"^  ^^ 
notto!;^:;'^^-;  S-f-.'"  Thor  «ad  c.  "Vas 
doawaywithirn^^y^l^Si^77,-thit.    lUasto 
clear  that  to  Christ  Lv^t!'  **"*  ^^  evolution.    It  is 

smptom-asynSl'S^rSSc^  ".Sir  "^^  ^"^  " 
the  symptom  without  und^teW  ^if^  '""•  ^°  ^PP^e* 
^y^ould  have  he.  f^^i.''^^,^^^^^^ 

^^^^ude  appeared  on  the  threshold.    Lois  smiled.    Thor 

Hello,    ClaudAf    n 

Reading  Vibart's  aS^^^"?;    J"f   -f   a   minute, 
more  to  the  end  of  theT».f       ^^n  ^^^  «  few  lines 
Christ.-  Thor  conL^:i^t^^J°  "^J!  *««*ing  o1 
the  causes  of  poverty  ^  ec^S^  ^^^  ^''^  that 
place,  and  moral  in  thrLT^?^    °^^  ^  *he  second 
shiftmg,  changing  vitaUv  w^hin  ,^«'°°™<=  conditions  are 
Nothing  is  P^Lnt  burtSl^r^  °^  *  generation. 
t«al.    Thou  Shalt  love  the  r!^°^'  ^°°thing  is  effec- 
h^..ndwithaUthyLulL^.,,^r,  ^  '^th  aU  thy 
nf  ghbor  as  thyselff  ^Sh^^  Z     *"  '^^  '^^-  ^^  thy 
all  the  law  and  the  p^phe^  ^  ??">°^<hnents  hang 
ments  hangs  also  the  sSution  of  ^»  ^.  *''°  °««>and- 
^e  that  a  race  that  oS^  t^l?!  ^"^  "^  Poverty, 
confronting  it.    I„  p^Stio^^^.'^""'^'*  P^'WenS 
obedience  these  probSZdtn^-    *  ^^"^  *>*  ^""^ 
f-verso^earto'^disa^^^^t^PI^-    They  were 

as  now,  when  the  moral 


"~  "^^«ne  aiive  to  them  "' 

Claude  smoked  a  dgarwl^'they 
191 


■  sat  and  talked.    It 


1M! 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

was  talk  in  which  he  personaUy  took  Httlecho™  k  .. 
which  he  sought  to  le^mwSrTnot  Th^'  ^VTI 
with  what  he  had  done     If  thZ„  „  ^  "^  satisfied 

he  thought  he  nngSrdetec"  tZx^Cr^^'^''' 

does  no  good  to^;ta^';o"1:S:rS:'^"^^-  " 
another  thousand  yeMTrr^  iii.  u  ^       ^"'^  ***  ^ 

P^ples  .c.  Christ'^rt  rt  S  £^b!Ssh^r^  *^ 
tha'^d^fo^fo^th^^i  T--^^'?-weUsay 
or  travel  by  tSUd  moSTfaow  I^  ^  walk  to^y^ 
yeare  the  common  metC^;,i«-  \*^**  ""  ^  '''"*«<1 
be  by  flyine     Thi<:^>     .      ^.    i"^  ^*^*  '^  probably 

^^.  man  to  get  on  Cj^^h^^^;,^- 

po;Lt 'go'To^^irc  s^*"  f^  "^^ »-  *« 

going."  ^     *°*  him  to  go  faster  than  he's 

•irSTp^^S'^S'Sri-thT^  ^'i^  r^  «^«. 

necks  were  broken?"  **^  "^*  *^t  legs  or 

nor  at  the  ^  pS^ 71^"'^  °^^^ '"  "'^  ™ddle 
imagined  theVX  to^*^^^/"''^  ^"^ -h- they 

S^veT'm^irn'^iTali^'^'*/"^^ 
at  the  beginning,  as  I  u^ldttLThS  ^^  ^  ^^^t 


THE   SIDE  OF  THr    axt^,, 

^r    itiE   ANGELS 

set  at  themselves  with  a  new  nnint„»   ■ 

of  action  toward  one  anott^^f  '^'^'  '^^  «  "e*  Kne 

t^  method  which  thS  Sver  W^  ^  *^  **«'  Chril 

poverty  and  other  inej^fe*^..^ ?l',°'  P«t  «P  with 

do  away  with  them  bylhTinSn,  ll    ^^^  *°  «P««  to 

that."  she  added,  in  ^defo^Ttu'^ '!.'^°«  "««':  "d 

deavoringtosumup  '•«^*      *^*  *"*''°'  she  was  en- 

Without  following  ■theTeofjl"  ^^y  *™«- " 
no  mterest,  Claudf  sj^KtT^-'^L'"  ^^'^  ^^  took 
b«>ther.     "Trouble  J^T^  ^\t,  ^o^}^  ^  ^is 
of  a  hurry.    Won't  l^ZyZgJt]u    '  ^  *°°  ""><* 

,':«>«nberthat  Vi^'S^fji^^^^^aiy.  .-you've  got  to 

^e  of  ardent.  The  evoE*^  ft  T"  *=  * '^■<=«1 
merely  a  matter  of  folloprin„  ^*  ^^  ^"^^^  ««  isn't 
depends  on  the  deere^  ^T^*'  °"*  «*rtain  principles-  it 
divine  energy.  iJ^  Z^Tj^."^^^^-^^ 
association  the  faster  to-^ZZ  ^  ^''^  <='°s«- the 
such  association  pi^  if^^  ^«*  there's  no 
nanember,  Thor.  ^ft^  IfT^.  **  ^*°PP«1-  You 
with  God.'"  «s  m  the  chapter.  'Pellow-workei^ 

"I  couldn't  make  it  out "  Tt,™     -^ 
patience.    '"PeUow-work^  ^^^  T^'  '^*  some  im- 
that  means."  ^"^^"^k^swthGodl'    I  don't  see  wC 
"Then,  until  you  do  see-" 

-y^aT 2;SS"f  "^  i  -^^  ^e  was  about  to 
^te  subjects,  while  cSe  ^'^*'°°  ^^^  ^ 
«^er-  He  wanted  to  be^I.J'**^^  "^^V  an  ob- 
w^  happy.  That  i;r°swas'^!f/.«»jvinj»d  that 
««^  was  appar«,t  in  eve,?  h^kJ^.'^^T'  H^ppi- 
aad  every  movement  of  h^j^n*''^^^  "^  *«•  featur^ 
w^an.  All  that  used  tTj^^J^.  ^  ^^  another 
^"ed  had  «soiv«i  its^  in'^Sr^^^rt 


ill' 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

owdteg  to  Claude,  you  could  see  it  with  half  an  eye 
She  had  gained  in  authority  and  looks,  while  she  had 
developed  a  power  of  holding  her  own  against  her  husband 
that  would  probably  do  him  good. 

As  to  Thor  he  was  less  sure.  He  looked  older  than  one 
might  have  expected  him  to  look.  There  was  an  expres- 
sion m  his  face  that  was  hardly  to  be  explained  by  marriage 
and  a  two  months'  visit  to  Europe.  Claude  was  not 
analytical,  but  he  found  himself  saying,  "Looks  like  a 
chap  who'd  been  through  something.  What?"  Being 
"through  something"  meant  more  than  the  experience 
incidental  to  a  wedding  and  a  honeymoon.  With  that 
aiought  torture  began  to  gnaw  at  Claude's  soul  again,  so 
that  when  his  brother  was  caUed  to  the  telephone  to 
answer  a  lady  who  was  asking  what  her  little  boy  should 
take  for  a  certain  pain,  he  sprang  the  question  on  Lois- 

'What  do  you  really  think  of  Thor?    You  don't  sup- 
pose he  has  anything  on  his  mind,  do  you?" 
Lois  was  startled.    "  Do  you  ?" 
"I  asked  first." 
"Well,  what  made  you?" 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know.    Two  or  three  things.    I  just  won- 
dered if  you'd  noticed  it." 

Her  face  clouded.  "I  haven't  noticed  that  he  had 
anything  on  his  mind.  I  knew  already— he  told  me  before 
we  were  married— that  there  was  something  about  which 
he  wasn't— wasn't  quite  happy.  I  dare  say  you  know 
what  it  is—" 
He  shook  his  head. 

"Don't  you?    WeU,  neither  do  I.    He  may  tell  me 
some  day;    and  till  then—    But  I've  thought  he  was 
better  lately— more  cheerful." 
"Hasn't  he  been  cheerful?' 

"Oh   yes  — quite— as  a  rule.     But   of  course  I've 
seen — " 

They  were  interrupted  by  Thor's  return,  after  which 
Claude  took  his  de  arture. 

194 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

He  woke  in  the  morning  with  a  frenzy  that  astonished 
tanself  to  put  into  execution  what  he  had  resolved. 
With  hia  nervous  volatility  he  had  half  expected  to  feel 
less  intensely  on  the  subject  after  having  slept  on  if 
but  everything  that  could  be  called  desire  in  his  nature  had 

T^J^^'7  «*°.^^  P^°"  *°  '"^e  R°sie  his  own. 
That  first  ^-and  all  else  afterward.  That  first  !-but  he 
could  neither  see  beyond  it  nor  did  he  want  to  see 

The  exatement  he  had  been  tempted  to  ascribe  on  the 
previous  evemng  tc  his  talk  with  Elsie  Darling,  and  per- 
haps  m  some  degree  to  a  glass  or  two  of  champagro 
havmg  berame  mtensified,  it  was  a  proof  of  its  bcinr-'the 
rwl  thing.      He  was  sure  now  that  it  was  not  only  the 
real  thing   but  that  it  would  be  lasting.    This  was  no 
spasmodic  Iweeze  through  his  aeoUan  harp,  but  the  breath 
and  hfe  of  his  being.    He  came  to  this  conclusion  as  he 
patted  a  bag  that  he  could  send  for  toward  evening  and 
made  a  few  othw  pr^iparations  for  a  temporary  absence 
from  his  father  s  house.    Putting  one  thing  with  another, 
he  had  reason  to  feel  sure  that  he  and  Rode  would  b^ 
back  there  together  before  long,  forgiven  and  received, 
so  that  he  was  reheved  of  the  necessity  of  taking  a  farewell. 
X  think  It  s  splendid,"  rang  in  his  heart  like  a  cheer 
Any  one  would  think  it  splendid  who  knew  what  he  was 
gomg  to  do— and  what  he  was  renouncing ! 

It  wasannoying  that  on  reaching  the  spot  where  he  took 
the  dectnc  car  to  go  to  town  old  Jasper  Fay  should  be 
watmg  there.  It  was  still  more  annoying  that  among  the 
other  mtendmg  passengers  there  should  be  no  one  whom 
CUude  knew.  To  drop  into  conversation  with  a  friend 
would  have  kept  Pay  at  a  distance.  Just  now  his  appear- 
ance-neat, shabby,  pathetic,  the  superior  workingman  in 
his  long-pr^erved,  threadbare  Sunday  clothe^-intro- 
duc^  disturbing  notes  into  the  sweUing  hymeneal  chant 
to  which  Qaude  felt  himself  to  be  marching.  There  were 
practical  reasons,  too,  why  he  should  have  preferred  to  hold 
no  mtercourse  with  Fay  till  after  he  had  crossed  his 
195 


:  ii 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

wouid  quicken    *  SjS^lt^  J"*'  ""'^'^  "^^  ««'<« 

turning,  or  recognizi^ay's  ^t^^'^^^"* '^thout 

rescue,  till  he  hear^  a  n^rl^cLrr^'j;."''  *^"  ^«  ^°' 
''"rS&.^«  wo^r^^?';^  »—  ««gh 

•bSXySTllt'Se^r  .?«*  ^  -ethin^ 
apologetic.  He  S^pSe""  '"'f^'''  '""^"'t  and 
ofy  inthegl^^fS:'^^;^'*  y**  '^th  a  kind 

»-yto^  tkl:^/Z""^'^''  ^^  ^^  »y  place 
weighing  the  itf!^y°°«'>^ye«xl."    Claude^ 

eoceofwhat^d?^      **'^'^*^«-    "One  experi- 

bi^t^s^'^-rdon'^ttsry  .a^v  '.^^  J-^' 

father's  sons."  ^      y°"-    ^O" »«  both  your 


you  coming  Liy  more^'  "°*"^y'    ^  <l°n  *  want  either  of 
think  you'd  obi^Tm/S^S^T^r.'""'  '  '*°^'^'* 

:;S;^.S?h?£e?-'-^^-^-e,w 

A*  -y  HtUe  girl.    No.^you  needn't  ask  her.    She 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 


She  won't  tdl  me.    All  I  know  is 


wouldn't  tell  you. 
what  I've  seen." 

-kerfitS?'.?'m7^L?l'"'  "-*r«y?"  Claude 
what  th^L  up^r         t  you  80  «  after  him  and  see 

aJ^L^A   "^'^  ^^  expressed  the  helplessness  of  the 

l*gpn'  you  to  keep  away.    No  kxxT U  !;J^^f 

Httle  bamer.    Claude^^up  ^ter  h^  he  founded  a 
^  piece  of  mon^^"S^f  in;1rci^ 


iiii 


il 


Chapter  xxi 

often  to  the  Darlinw'     '^  Hah  ^*"  ^°"K «» 

home.    Better  drop  ta  on  iW  T  '  ""^  "^y-    °°  8° 
put  you  to  rights"  •    G'^«  you  something  to 

was  mo:.  f-iCtlJ^'gllSTTn'Se  "'''*■''" 
sunlight  he  hardiv  Teenor^i,3ll^^'  *"*  morning 

he  know  wh^to  I,^"j^^  surroundings,  nor  m 

day.  He  was  .^T  to '^"^'i^^*  21'^'^*^''°^ 
whi,A  he  was  accustomed  to  finft,  =P°««^atory  in 
with  beady  ev«andTS„   •  .''*^'  ''''*"  ««  Italian 

bed  thThad'^    °i^8  «^'  ''''°  ^^  «ldng  a 
to  the  last  hoSriTS'r^ter;,^-^ 
man  for  divining  what  he  wlZ;  b^SJ^S^  "'" 
It  was  a  cucumber-house.    That  iTwhZ!.  »    ^' . 

»«  of  (JZeT  SS2?K.'^  "■?*"«»"  H»  ,  .did 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

d^«d  J£,*^h1V.*1!*  ^  *^*  ""P^  "«"'<««<»  that 
awarted  wm.  and  which  wm  climbing,  climbine  .till     It 

»«  prodapou..    In  it.  way  it  wa.  p4Ce.    It  wi"  lii* 

ment  o(  cheerful  little  plant,  that  at  a  distW^lS 
U»  jade  or  miUachite.  Now.  all  of  a  sudden  aTitwe^ 
there  wa.  this  forest  of  rank  verfure,  «prunT^"h  ataTd 
rf  hideou.  rapidity.  rtifii„g.  overpowWing^  ^'S2 

rf  o^.,  ^"J^-P^  f-^t.  8«cn  with  the  faintest  tip 
of  gold  hung  heavy,  indolent,  luscious,  derisivdTeaS 
to  toach  and  taste  in  this  semi-tropical  Ct  T?e 
gherkm  a  few  inches  above  it  defied  the  eyTto  d^^* 
^^^L":f  ••^'gthening  that  were  takLg  pSTas  a 
mM  looked  on.  Tendrils  crept  and  curled  andLSled 
«d  mt«locked  fn«.  vine  t  vine  like  queer,  blindSg 
things  feehng  after  one  another.    Pale  blc4soms  rf^! 

wlule  bew  boomed  from  flower  to  flower.  beaiZlhe 

to  the  females  growmg  daintily  from  the  end  of  ^ 
embryo  cucumber  as  from  a  pixiched,  wizened  stem 
fom,7^r^  a  f«^  pa«»  into  this  gigantic  vinery.  Claude 

^hli  K-^  T*"^  ^°^«  ™Kbt  be  working.  He 
pushed  his  way  slowly,  parUy  because  a,e  wann  Sr 
heavy  with  poUen  made  him  faint,  and  S^^,^' 
th«  close  pressure  of  facile,  triumphint  nat3Ll^^ 
nerv^  a  suggestion  of  *he  menacing.  On  the^Awav 
°^i?ft'  dark  loam  his  .^s  feU  noi^lessly  ^       ^ 

When  he  came  upon  Rode  she  was  buried  in  the  deoths 
of  an  atoost  imperceptible  cross-aisle  and  at  the^T^ 
S.?iin?t*^**t-  Asherbackwastowam'C^ 
mfn,^-    °^  ^^^^  approach,  he  watched  her  for  a 

S^J^"^^**-    "'«'l'^<=k  eye  noticed  that  she  wore  a 

blue^reen  cotton  stuff,  with  leaf-green  belt  and^ 

199 


ntt' 


i 


mr  ' 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

^t  W  L;:j^i^/--t  of  her  Uekgn^,,  and 
display  the  ex^dt^lS  K'^^'^gS^  «>«  ^'^  ^^ 
dehcately  the  pale  Uttle  bl(S«^  f^^,"  J''*  "^"^  P^ckuiK 
to  the  pcuad.  Her  wi^^' ^'^ '«««S  them  flutt^ 
yeUow  things  already  SnJ^  f^'^  ^^^^  the  fnul 
^dingthdr^SSirTt^^^- ->d  ^-^. 
to  hfe  unto  life  with  thH^t^.^-'  *°  ^  t^asmuted 
"Rosie,  what  are  ySd^*  ??*"*''»  ^  ^^^Z- 

i^^T^t^^^^  but  he  was  not  prepared 

pentrated  on  him.  nor  ^'^t^htZ^,^^^^  ^^  ««" 
mg  nunutes  wa^  a^jS^^J[^'*  ^"f  her  wak- 
startled  if  he  had  c^T^^  „f  ^.  ^°^d  have  been 
toward  night;  but  itT^  t  d«th  L^  customary  hou„ 
hke  this  in  the  middiroT  «,?  f„^^  heart  to  see  him 
was  the  greater  on  Ci  ^2  h^°°?;    ?he  emotion 
P«spective  focused  thee^^f^^^  ^V^^'  ""^w 
other,  with  no  pos^Mtrof  „^  ?*  *^"  ^"^  °^  the 
fflained  where  he%^     r  Jl  nusreadmg.     Claude  re- 
feeble  aid  of  the  n^t  ^"  "'""^  ^"^  «"??<«  to  the 

he  w^&^S  SS^-tf^  ^«  thought 
something  to  say.  It  waTEvr^^*^  "  gave  her 
.^P'^^about  befoJ;  Sg^;S  l^i^  ''^  ."P  I'y 
the  superfluous  female  flow Js.^'  .fhf  was  picking  off 
!trength  of  the  pla^  SnottTth."'  '^^.*''^*  "«' 
One  had  to  do  that,  otheSl  "anaming  ones. 

TW  nt^^  «f  ™S^  ilr''^*^  ^-  ^  - 
ned  ?"  «iyimug  about  ynu  and  me  being  mar- 

''Oh  what's  he  been  sayine?"    «?»,«   i 

only  a  matter  of  what  you^     IL  ^  ^^^^^     It's 

«e  Why  he's  paying  ralZZn^iZ^'  ^  *<>  teU 

aoo 


■r. -'i 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

^l  ^'^l^!^.*S>:.  »°*  «Jy  because  his 


nerves 
•  wringing 


"  R,^^    S^  '^  ?^  ''^  *^°^8  that."  '        • 

It's  SLtZffcr.^^^*^^-" 

now;  she  cauW^y  in^  h^^  *°  ^"^  ^V^g  back 

^e-itrjC^^^-r^th^ffi  J 

it  to^do  SS'  '•'  "^  "^^^  ^*  ^?    What  had 

neverthoughtof^SS^S^.^l'^f'^r^^-    ^ 
Claude  drew  a  biHf  fvSe     "V^  ^"^'  ^ 

~uld  get  ^fZ^lt^^Ct'ZT^'^'  "^"^  '•^ 
with  you."  '^^  ''^  ^"^  be  was  in  love 

I  was  ^wJj^aLd^/CBut  /-^"I  ""''^  *^  y°" 

bufL'S?"Lrto^-C3h1^''f  ^-^  '"-°*' 

and  you  would.    You'^  J^^? ''"^ '^""^ '»•  R°^e. 

If  you  knew  what^  t  is  to 'be  S  Evr-f  ^^^  ^  '"^• 
it  wouldn't  have  bJn  JvJT  t  ,  ®"  "^  ^  bad  done  it. 
It  wouM  hav^  iLoT^or^r  ^  ^r^  y^  ^y  tbe  less 
and-andev^X^  °'°*''  ^'^  ^^"- 

rent  him,  too.  ''TSfdr,^.**  ?°™  ""^'  because  they 
You  wou^d  have  done  it  ^.V""^^  ^^  diffe,«>ce.  Rode, 
felse  to  ml^^  '*  ^"^  *^^  "^^^    As  it  is,  you  were 


II  I 


I 


If./!.    I       J 
111" 


f 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

"^^y.that  once,  CUude!" 

worst."  everytlung  that  happened— the  very 

;ips?^-tr.x«.es.. 

HeScte-^Tn^-^t^:^  -^  -S  at  aU. 

whaSa&nSnSrilte  ~1^°'>^^  »^«^« 
and  scrimp  and  savSd  n^ib^  uT  *°  ''''^  ^"^  ^8^' 

and  no  one  to  hdohM^r^Ti^^""^  °"*'  daude!- 
VThat-s  got  nX^i^^^le^..^— '" 

have  said  that  I'd  m^S^.''  ^  ^^^  *^^  ^t  I'd 

as  yl:rJS:,SSroT,j'°  ^T  '^^''  '^  ^°*-  ««* 
"I  think  I  woul^^wSld  r^r^  "'  ^''^  ""^^"y^ 
the  ^e  time,  and  X<^inXJ^'^Z°^^  '' 

htm."  ^    '  "-^""lef    Can  t  you  seef    It  wasn't 

it  ^^s  itry^tS"  "^  "'°"^*'-    ^"*  <I°  you  think 

I'd  J^^^Idl^^  "  ^  »--  -""Id  '-ve  done  it  unless 

I'But  you'd  have  do««  it— " 
poin?"   *^'"'^'  ^  -'-ldn't--ot  when  it  came  to  the 

303 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

Oh,  Claude!" 

And  I  want  to  see  if  wn,,Mi  *  n 

I  say?"  «>  oe  a  he,  Claude;  but  what  could 

teUrrnxST"'""'*  ---  -  thin,  to  be  a  lie.  Rosie.  we 
_Buthowco«Wl?" 
"Well,  perhaps  you  couldn't-  u,  4. 

happen,  since  you  vrerelrim^ZT^  "^^y  more  didn't 

She  began  ^th  m^ll^'-  "  *<^d." 
was  last  January-llSSc^t'wr^^"^  ^"^  hands.  "It 
one  evening-I  was  iT^i  Tf  Jf""ary-yes,  it  was- 
Ml^^dhecam^^^fjl^?^  hothouse  making^ 
asked  me-"  *-*™^  *"  °t  a  sudden-and  he  asked  me-ie 
^"Yes,  yes;  go  on." 

ask^rSw'^Jci^-lSrC.I'^^*^-  ^''he 
die  for  you-^d  so  I  wIm^??'  ^^  ^  '^'^-I  said  I'd 
Y-Jl^^^^^beHeve  m^or  n^^^:  ^'^"'*^-    ^'^  '^^  >*  .My 

happiSX^r.   "^^  ^  '^^t  to  know  is  what 

hoit  m^t  t  h?p  Sif^tl^.  .'  '^^•*  -•'-^'i 
You  see.  Claude,  ev^  Tb^^  ^  **^  *  ^^^te  believe  him 
liked  him-^r  S^  hi™  ^^  hrother,  I  never  r^y 
^ways  something  abStiT:i*u^y-  Th««  waT 
now  I  see  what  it\.  I  She'^^\"fL"  °"*-^d 
promise  r  wouldn't  "  '''"^hedteU.    And  he  made  me 

•'S^aTS's^rto'r'- r-Jr^*^"*  ^^"-hatr 
some  one  else-and  Zm  ^^t^^.  ™«''*  «°  ^^  ""any 
to.'ne  to  1^^^^  £^«  .^"jJdn't  want  what  he  Sd 

;;But  what  did  hJ^^  *  ''°^'^  ""^  trouble." 

"Don't  you  *wa/  what  he  said?" 

'03 


m 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

She  ^ed  with  herself.    "Oh,  Claude,  I  don't  want 
to.^    I  wish  you  wouldn't  make  me." 
"Go  on,  Rosie;  go  on." 

hJ^f ,!!J^  ^^,'^^  ^  '""^  '^^  "^e  himself-and  that  if  I 
hadn  t  been  m  love  with  you— "  >•"»■.  u  i 

^e  was  able  to  help  her  out.    "That  he'd  have  mamed 

She  nodded,  piteously. 
"And  you  said — ?" 

to^L'^^^^t^^^''  *"  "!!r    ^^'  8^*er«l  her  forces 
-Qgetfter.       i  didn  t  say  anything— not  then." 

to  J?»1,T  *°lf  .i!^  ^^^^  that  you  wer*  willing 
to  marry  fern  whether  you  werts  in  love  with  me  or  not.'' 

at  £r      ^'  '^'-  ^-^  "^y  ^^''  ^y  '^y^^s 

"You  just  let  him  see  it  " 

-he^cou^d  see  how  I  fdt-that  it  was  like  a  temptation  to 
me-that  It  was  hke  bread  and  water  held  out  to  a  starving 
"That  is,  that  the  money  was?" 
She  beat  one  hand  against  the  other  as  she  pressed 
them  agamst  her  breast.  "Don't  you  see?  It  h^te^ 
that  way.    I  couldn't  see  aU  that  money  comeright- 

^tt"te^^'*^''*T^l°''*  wish-just  for  that  ninute 
—that  I  could  have  it.    Could  I,  now?" 

are     R,  J  *^°°'*  ™P?°f  ^  "^*^'  Rosi^being  what  you 
are.    But,  yo-,  see  I  thought  you  were  somethLg  else  " 

along-"""'  *    ^°"    ^^'^-    "^°"'^e    ^°^    aU 

'.  thought  I  kne 


didn't.    I  find  that 


along! 


find  I 


cause  Thor  wouldn't  take 

"He  couldn 
How  could  hei 


you're  only  willing  to  marry  me  be- 


you 


take  me  after  I  said  I'd  die  for  you. 


304 


THE  SIDE  OF  THp   axt 

"Andhtw  ANGELS 

He  thx«wout^i;^3^'v««id  you  wen,  willing^,. 

."Because  he'd  make-" 
Wo.  he  didn't  say  that     t     ,    . 

y^^6  he  said  he  wUSt  hlv^S^bS'  ^  '^^'''  "^^ 
wiietaer  or  no.  or  sr^^tu-  .?  "■  ^^cause  you'd  Ho  ,> 
'em^nberwhat:-      **""*^«  ^^^  that-I  Z'?  ^st 

?sr-"-^"?S"-"  -  ■■"■ 

.  ^«.  Claude.  wha+  j„ 
eojng  to  do?"       ""^^  <^°  y°"  'nean?    "(Vhat  are  yo« 

fap  ?  S-^T';£rrwi*i?-  '^  -  ^<^-  of  the 
I  was  talking  to  a2lj^„^^J°  ^'x^oe  for  y^ 
was  all  ready  to  n,^  ^  ^  ;j:ho,Iet  me  ste  thlt'^e 


1  '^ 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

jHiat  ytni'd  can  an  heirws— and  she',  a  pretty  girl. 

''And  what  did  you  say  to  her,  Claude?" 
"I  told  her  I  couldn't.    I  told  her  about  you  " 
JAboutme?    Oh.  Claude!    And  what  did  she  say?" 
She  said  it  was  splendid  for  a  chap  with  my  future  to 
fan  in  love  with  a  girl  like  you  and  be  true  to  her.    But 
you  see,  Rosie.  I  thought  you  were  true  to  me  " 
"Oh.  butlam.  Qaude!" 

He  laughed  "True?  Why,  Rosie,  you  don't  know 
the  meanmg  of  the  word !  When  Thor  whistles  for  you- 
as  he  will-you  11  go  after  him  like  that."  He  snapped  his 
nngers.     '  He  11  only  have  to  name  your  price  " 

She  paid  no  attention  to  these  words,  nor  to  the  insult 
tney  contamed.  Her  arms  jvere  crossed  on  her  breast 
her  face  was  turned  to  him  earnestly.  "Yes:  but  what 
about  this  other  girl,  Claude?" 

He  spoke  with  apparent  carelessness.    "Oh,  about 
cL     ™  °<^<*«1  "1  <*e  direction  of  the  door  at  the  end 
of  the  hothouse  and  of  the  world  that  lay  beyond  it 
I  m  going  to  marry  her." 

She  looked  puzzled.  Her  air  was  that  of  a  person  who 
had  neva-  heard  similar  words  before.  "You're  goine  to 
— ^what? '  6  ""6  vu 

"  I'm  going  to  marry  her,  Rosie." 

For  a  few  seconds  there  was  no  change  in  her  attitude 
Wie  seemed  to  be  taking  his  statement  in.  When  the 
meanuig  came  to  her  she  withdrew  her  eyes  from  his  face 
and  dropped  her  arms  heavUy.  More  seconds  passed 
while  she  stood  hke  that,  meek,  crushed,  sentenced,  her 
head  parfaally  averted,  her  eyes  downcast.  Presently 
she  moved  but  it  was  only  to  begin  again,  absently, 
mechamcaUy,  to  pick  the  superfluous  female  blossoms 
from  the  nearest  vine,  letting  the  delicate,  pale-gold 
things  flutter  to  the  ground.  It  was  long  before  she 
spoke  m  a  childish,  unresentful  voice- 
"Are  you,  Claude?" 

2o6 


THS  SIDE  OF  THP    4x,„ 

S^^-'Sr^^  "■■■■ 

She  wentT^tt  h*?^   1*  '"^"t  »y  fault  •• 
motion  of  thTlSs  ^^^«  "^^ntly,  b«rU  ,  ^^ 

to°kh^y"li^P°"«-    The  picking  of  the  M 
effort  tn  i^tu    ^™  ''™-  step  bv  st«,    ti  Wossoms 

^•-J^lor  doing  a  ttS^St^^*'  ''"^^  «^e.  to  be 

Evt°?^^  ^  '^^  g'4  tootle  ir*"  •"  p^^^t  S 

picked  and  drotSdtS:i?*««d  its  te^T  ^1^  ?„*•*'• 
theend  of  her",^^  *^^  ^'°-«»s  slowly  till  S^r^^ 

^-^^r^d^P^Syti^r^-^ot-     Ifsb 


■I;! 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

had  flung  him  one  piteous  backward  look,  or  held  out  her 
hands,  or  sobbed,  he  might  have  melted.  But  she  did 
nothing.  She  only  disappeared.  She  was  lying  like  a 
stricken  animal  behind  the  thick  screen  of  leaves,  but  he 
didn't  know  it.  In  any  case,  he  gave  her  the  option  of 
coming  back. 

He  gave  her  the  option  and  waited.  He  waited  in  the 
overpowering  heat,  amid  the  low  humming  of  bees.  The 
minutes  passed;  there  was  neither  sound  among  the  vines 
nor  footstep  beside  him;  and  so,  with  head  bent  and  eyes 
streaming  and  head  aching  and  nerves  unstnmg  and  con- 
science clamoring  reproachfully,  he  turned  and  went  his 
way. 

He  surprised  his  father  by  going  back  to  the  bank. 
"Look  here,  father,"  he  confessed,  "I'm  not  ill.  I'm 
only  terribly  ui)set  about— about  something.  Can't  you 
send  me  to  New  York  ?    Isn't  there  any  business—?" 

Masterman  looked  at  him  gruvdy  and  kindly.  He 
divined  what  was  happening.  "There's  nothing  in  New 
York,"  he  said,  after  a  minute's  thinking,  "but  there's 
the  Routh  matter  in  Chicago.  Why  shouldn't  jrou  go 
there?  Mr.  Wright  was  taking  it  up  himself.  Was 
leaving  by  the  four-o'clock  train  this  afternoon.  Go  and 
tell  him  I  want  you  to  take  his  place.  He'll  explain  the 
thing  to  you  and  supply  you  with  funds.  And,"  he 
added,  after  another  minute's  thought,  "since  you're 
going  that  far,  why  shouldn't  you  run  on  to  the  Pacific 
coast?  Do  you  good.  I've  thought  for  some  time  past 
that  you  needed  a  little  change.  Take  your  own  time— 
and  all  the  money  you  want." 

Claude  was  trying  to  articulate  his  thanks  when  h's 
father  cut  him  short.  "All  right,  my  boy.  I  know  how 
you  fed.  If  you're  going  to  take  the  four-o'clock  you've 
no  time  to  lose.  Good-by."  he  continued,  holding  out  his 
hand  heartily.    "Good  luck.    God  bless  you !" 

The  young  man  got  himself  out  of  his  father's  room  in 
order  to  keq>  from  bursting  into  tears. 


^^^^^A^T^R  XXII 


?^'y  «^ed  people  to  ^^Si"  T  "''^  ""^^ 

J  AU  nght,  I'll  go."  *^'™*  complwnce  which  ensued 

of n«W to'w°i2S  '^*  ^°"°^«1  on  an  to  K,' 
yielding  th^rl  !^^^  yielding  on  secn7^t2™.^*« 


wg  to  make  up  to  her  f^  sotn^^h^T  ^°^eti  he  were"  try- 

«  was  her  turn  to  f«.i  /v,™/^        "°<^  enough 
rather  not     ivT     i       **°'P"»'ctJon.   "rwf      ., 

^ut  he  persisted.    "Oh  Tti 
««"'•    Top-hat.  of  coui2V^«°-    Must  put  on  another 

309 


!    |i 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

♦„!!?*  t^  woman'!  Mtiafaction  in  getting  her  husband 
to  chureh.  tf  only  for  once,  she  said  no  more  in  the  way  ot 
diMuaaon.  Besidt*.  she  hoped  that,  should  he  go.  he 
might  h«^  -nnething"  that  would  comfort  this  hidden 
pef  of  which  she  no  longer  had  a  doubt,  since  CUude 
too.  was  aware  of  it.  It  was  curious  how  it  betrayed  it- 
self-iieither  by  act  nor  word  nor  manner,  nor  so  much  as 
a  sigh  and  yet  by  a  something  indefinable  beyond  aU  his 
watchfulness  to  conceal  from  her.  She  couldn't  guess  at 
his  trouble,  even  when  she  tried;  but  she  tried  only  from 
madyertence.  When  she  caught  herself  doing  so  she 
KlTaxned.  respecting  his  secret  tiU  he  thought  it  well  to 
tell  her. 

She  said  no  more  till  he  again  dropped  the  paper  to 
give  his  attention  to  his  coffee.'  "Have  you  been  to  see 
the  Fays  yet?" 

He  put  the  cup  down  without  tasting  it.    He  sat  quite 
upn^t  and  looked  at  her  strangely.    He  even  flush«i 
Why,  no." 

The  tone  appealed  to  her  ear  and  remained  in  her 
memory,  though  for  the  moment  she  had  no  reason  to 
conader  it  significant.  She  merely  answered,  "  I  thought 
1  might  walk  up  the  hiU  and  see  Rosie  this  afternoon  " 
leavmg  the  subject  there. 

Thor  found  the  service  novel,  and  impressive  from  its 
novelty.  Except  for  the  few  weddings  and  funerals  he  had 
attended,  and  the  service  on  the  day  he  married  Lois,  he 
could  hardly  remember  when  he  had  been  present  as  a 
fomal  participant  at  a  religious  ceremony.  He  had 
therrfore,  no  preconceived  ideas  concerning  Christiaii 
worship,  and  not  much  in  the  way  of  prejudice.  He  had 
dropp^  m  occasionaUy  on  the  services  of  foreign  cathe- 
dr^s,  but  purely  as  a  tourist  who  made  no  attempt  to 
undersfana  what  was  taking  place.  On  this  particular 
morning,  however,  the  pressure  of  needs  and  emotions 
withm  his  soul  induced  an  inquiring  frame  of  mind. 
On  leachmg  the  pew  to  which  Lois  led  him  he  sat  dovm 


THE  SIDE  OF  THi.^NO£LS 

J^^Sti^j;  t'^'/'Tj  P j^  in  Which  to  benow  W.  t^ 
kn««  in  pr^^^^l^^Zc  hi^K""^  fell  «  ft 

Pnvmte,  «,d  h*d  a  vagu'^  ^»1  '^''  «^<'  P«ye«  m 
but  thi,  public.  unSed  dL^J*'  ""P"^  »'  the  rite; 
*;^  till  ha  «iwZ^t,t^e"S  fr  "^  «  «t3e' 
They  entered  and  knelt.  notlTn.^^''  ""^^K*^  «  It. 
«»<Wted  cwmony.  Ct  ^  ^"k*^"*  to  any  p,^ 
««^  looking  «.  it^rf'^T^*'"  O'^  topulse.  ^ 
That  wa,  his  nsHSiSawlr*™^  ""^  stilled- 
There  wa.  a  serenity  ^T^^ZVT^'^'  «^««- 
^?n  to  T^cogniL  ^p2r  oMif^  T"^  '^'^  had 

<«  hushed,  tranquaXSl^T^*^*  '"  the  village 
««ed  to  a  level  hieh«tS!r  ''^  their  orfinary  state 
by  their  own  attaSS^^ts^^  that  '^^  be^S 

h«>  that  he  had  come  toto^S^''"'-  ^t  seemed  to 
values.  Lois  hereelf,  «  she  ^f  "f  standards,  new 
bes.de  him.  gained  in  ToS^t^uTu''**  ^^  ««d  Z 
to  gauge.  *  "J^ty  which  he  had  no  capaa^ 

anfcisrff  K  r;y"jrS'=  -"-'  -^ch  studio 

Stall  of  denials.  "Nev^^°  affirmations,  and  chari^ 
'^"-had  been  one^  ttj^!^^'!!?^-*'  «'«  icT^ 
P^.  of  old  Hervieu.  tf^  ^^«  '"t^  ?f  advi«  on  Z 
Institut  Pasteur.  H- t^  whom  he  had  worked  at  the 
hostile  attitude  towS^S'^J^^.  therefore.  «  a  n^! 
but  a  hazy  idea  as  to  Chris«^S,  w  ^/^«"«-  He  had 
Senfal  way  that  tL^Z^^f''  ^'  ^'  ^^  ^ 
^^  they  might  be,  it^^  Ws'^^'r"'"  P^^P^^n^s 
phenomena,  and.  now  that  h.  h»?'  *^'  *°  "^-^^^ 

so,  he  observed  them.  ^'^  ^  opportunity  to  do 

How  did  you  like  if?"     T    • 

"Why?"   ■ 


311 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

it.  to  appeal  to  the  ifflagiaaSr    ^' *  •«t»^.  i«'t 
Oh.  lot.-Bace  imagination  «!«  the  world." 

family,  the  father  S^tSZ  77<^Z^°'^^'^  »  **« 
week.  It  wa.  his  w^J^T  ^'^  "?"'°"  "«*  • 
^der  the  blow  IW  Sad  ^^^  forbearance 
WUoughby.  '  '^  ">  marrying  Loi, 

"Where's  Claude?" 

f^Sri^a^rS^er!"wMr.r"--    «^ 
consdousness:  «pued,  with  aome  self- 

..5."  *~''®'*  gone  West." 

"West?    Where?" 

"To  Chicago  first,  isn't  it.  Archie?" 

toUeS  :S*S^'*  -^^  Chicago  fim.  and 
that  Lots  looked  afM?^'    ^"^ «  •'"""'y  was  such 

^t  «f  eren<!:1an"  utLce"to'Zr-a:„>  3^°^' 
travel  alone,  isn't  he?"  ^         Claude's  able  to 

-T^fS'^li^Ld'^S.S'Z^t.^  to  cany  off  the 
Claude'sdepirturelhrri^K.  •  *  *^'^  '^^  """^  « 
«plain.  BSforei<^„t?'^^«««- pleasure  would 
«^.  he  c^adTl^flT^  °°*  y^  i"  the  family 
that  teth  CithS^d  S?^  '•  ^}  '*  '«=°'«»  *«  ^ 
in  their  faces  hT^m  K  ^^^  ^  uneasiness  written 
only  to  PutlL^ff  Si^^T^*„,,?  »-''«?  "s  f<JS 
which  he  was  seekii,^  J»^  "''^  *"™"^t  in  his  soul 

to  break  out  aS^^in^^fT  *°  ^  '^^  "^""^ 
up  RCe  Pay  I  cJ^:^f^Z^^^i^^P^_ 


THE   SIDE  OP  THE  ANGELS 

^.  a««le  w«  tn*«  .0  .Undo.  her.  then,  br 

•f«ted  odd  to  wth.Tcu^dr.7oi?r  ■"!!•*'«"*•  ^t 

•hould  vex  him  so.     PojS    K"«  ^^^^  ^"^  «  holiday 

J«d  hung  about  the  hStogrt^  "^''*'*  '^'^«*  ^ 

Sh«  r!!"^"'^"^  '^'^"'l  this,  i,  there?" 
one  averted  her  head     "H^  j     t  . 

h««l  nothing  to  do  ,H^t     AuTif    ^  •'°!*^'  ^^^    ' 

P«ed.    Claude  <»ml  n.Jhf      u     '"T'  "  J"**  ^'hat  hap. 

•aid  he  ha^.0  n^KK^"'^  Wedne«3ay.  aiS 

..^y  didn't  any  one  teU  me?" 

•eemS^„S.::J,^«t*eho««.    And  it  didn't 

^^..B"*  »t  is  important,  isn't  it?    Doe«'t  father  tUnk 

She  tried  to  look  at  him  franklv     "  V™„  *  *i.     ^ 
know  any  more  abou .  it  tl^n^'n-JL^  '?*''"  ''°«»'t 
•t  aU.    Claude  came  trWm^^r^^'**i"'*''°°*^« 
oughtn't  to  tell  ^  T^or     Yo^^  ^^^*  ^  ^ 
noyed  with  me  "  °"  ^*^^  ^°<^^  be  an- 

We  didn't  try  to^^it  w*?"^  f!"'  ^^^^^'^  ««et. 

Iwishyou^uldK^Jj^e^J^"^    *^''' "T^**' 
would  be  best"    '"  "^8*  *«ke  their  course.    I'm  sure  it 


if 


It  111 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

aZ:  /">"*'«  that  man  who's  giving  her  money-and 

But  Thor  nwhed  away.    Having  learned  aU  he  needed 

™  ^Z..T  ^t''i\^l  ""^  ^^  ''^^  was  to  be  said 
«i  the  other.  He  had  hoped  never  again  to  be  brought 
fa^  to  face  with  Rosie  tiU  she  was  his  brother's  wtfe 
mt  condition  would  have  dug  such  a  gulf  between  them 
l^}J';^'f^:^'^^b^  changed.    But  if  she  was  .^ 

L    .P^"1f  '  "^^-^  ^^^^  ''^  ^^«g  a  bnate  to 
hCT-then  she  must  see  that  at  least  she  had  a  friend 

ft,  f1  *  ^^^^  ^^  '^**^°  ton  as  he  climbed  the  hiU 
that  he  forgot  that  Lois  would  probably  be  there  before 
^.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  she.  was  talking  to  Pay  in  a 
corner  of  the  yard,  standing  in  the  shade  of  aVeat  ma^<^ 
Ua  that  was  a  pyramid  of  bloom.  All  around  it  thegrc^d 
w^  strewn  in  a  circle  with  its  dead-white  petals,  each 
with  Its  flush  of  red.  Near  the  house  there  w^  y^w 
clumps  of  forsythia,  while  the  hedge  of  bridal-v^  to  the 
rf low         ^^'■^^P'"*  ^"^^  t°  have  just  received  a  fall 

Fay  confronted  him  as,  slackening  his  pace,  he  went 
toward  them;  but  Lois  turned  only  at  his  ap^  X 
expression  was  troubled.  Hi""<«^.    tier 

..'^^""'J  ^  ^°^'^  ^P'^n  t°  ine  what  Mr.  Pay  is 
^yng-    He  doesn't  want  me  to  see  Rosie  " 
Why,  what's  up?" 

un^?£'>^''^°  ^^^r  ^  ^^  something  serious  was 
up  for  It  was  ashen.     It  had  grown  old  and  sunken,  and     ' 

2lSy        "^""^  "^"^  '"^  ^^^""•^  *°  -  d^ 

toJrfht  l*?  r**  ""■  ^-  '^°'''  ^^y  ^d-  «  that 
tone  of  his  which  was  at  once  mild  and  hostile,  "that  I 

don  t  want  any  Masterman  to  have  anything  tc^  do  with 
me  or  mme.  j        t,       ^■^  m^^i 

notr*"^  tried  to  control  the  sharpness  of  his  cry.    "Why 

314 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

^mJ       "^  ""^^t.*"  ^°°^  «*  '"y  little  girl.    Oh   wlr 
•ouldnt  you  leave  her  alone  >"  ^ 

J^is  spoke  anxious^.     "Is  anything  the  matter  with 

"Only  that  you've  killed  her  between  you." 
^^^owedL«s  to  question  him.    "Why,  what  can 

Tir/lT''*^*  ^  ^^-  °^'^-^t  she's  done  for." 
fo^W^'^r*'""*-     "But  I  don't  understand.    Done 
see  her  and  find  out  what's  the  matter  "  ' 

tooo^Jr^'S'"''''"^'''^'^-    "H«'«-n  her  once 

Better  ask  Wm,  ma'am." 

J^TcruJ'  "^^g  "le,"  Thor  declared,  "for  I've  not 
the  shghtest  Idea  of  what  you're  driving  ^t." 

butii'ci        T  '"^  "^^  P'^y  t'^^  innocent,  Dr.  Thor- 
b^it  s  no  use  keepmg  up  the  game.    You  t^k  me  in^t 

?SLd?'°°^^%\"^'''^°"^-    You  were^dng  tote 
wS^tt^d^"'^  ^"^  *?'  Place.--and  keepmeLTtS 

:?o^yr  ^^ITturgiS'-?^^^"  ^^  '^*'-'^'^-  ^ 
Mr^F^vTJ^r''-    I*  '^^  Lois  who  protested.    "Oh, 

"It^;vfI^uTT.'"'''*'^'°^?  It's  wicked." 
1  can  say  them.  All  I  know  is  what  I've  seen  If  voii 
was  gang  to  many  this  lady,"  he  went  on,  ^g"^ 
1M?^",>  v^  *^^*  y°"  ^''^  ^^^  away  fi4i^ 
ml^lZn^:'  '°  ^"^^  -^  «°<^'  ^^  ^u 
thf^r'^  to  '-'<ne  to  Thor's  aid  as  he  stood  speechless 

S^r'^f^'^r""'^^  "But  I  had  nothing  ^XS 
that,  Mr.  Fay.    I  never  wanted  anything  of  Rosie  but 


'  friend.' 


»iS 


I 


f 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

"You.  ma'am?  You're  »U  of  a  piece.  You're  aU 
^^tennans  together.  What  hi«l  you  ^^  do  with  bSig  a 
farad  to  her?-«ettmg  her  to  caU!-and  have  tea^-^d 
^ttang  notions  mto  her  head!  The  rich  and  the  poor 
cant  be  fnends  any  longer.    If  the  poor  think  they ^ 

thmkmg  because  we  were  Americans  we  h^  S 
TTiere  s  no  nghte  any  more,  except  the  right  of  the  rtmne 
to  trample  on  the  weak-tiU  some  one  tLaples  4  ttT 
And  some  one  always  does.  There's  that.  We're  Zm 
to^y.  but  you'll  be  down  to^om^w.    DonTf^lT 

any  other-that  it  makes  everybody  take  their  turn 

L^f^^^Ii  ^'J^'^  ^""^  y'^  ^^^  as  life  is  h^; 

mi^?''  ^*  ^^°'-    "^  y°"  °^«  °"t  ^hat  he 

"I  can  make  out  that  he's  very  much  mistaken-" 
Mistaken,  Dr.  Thor?    I  don't  see  how  you  can  say 
nto  thltT^*  mistaken  the  night  I  saw  /ou  ^l 

gm  was  at  work.    I  wasn't  mistaken  when  I  saw  you 
creep  away.    Still  less  was  I  mistaken  when  I  stole  ™ 

fifr;  ^,r  ^      «     i?''^  ^°^  °°  them,  and  she  crying 
fit  to  kill  herself.    That  was  just  a  few  days  before^ 

bem  the  same  child  since.    Always  troubled-alwa^ 
»Mnethmgonh«mind.    Not  one*  dncel^^^^^e 

h^.'^velcSTow'r-  ^"^'^  '-''  ^  ^^^^^ 
"I   didn't   come,"    Thor   stammered     "becai.<»    TV 

nei^^f  ^  didn't  come  •'  Fay  went  on,  with  the  mild- 

wnrttw        V    ■  ^*^  substitute.    He's  finished  the 
work  that  you  began.    He  was  here  with  her  an  h<^  1m? 

3l6 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

Wednesday  momingHust  after  I'd  warned  him  off  fo» 
good  and  all."  '"• 

Thor  started.    "Let  me  go  to  her  " 

J^mZY^-'^uJ"  ^  T*y-  "N°.  sir.  To  see  yo« 
would  be  the  fimshmg  touch.  She  can't  hear  your  n^ 
^thout  a  skver  going  through  her  from  head  to  foot 
We  ve  tned  it  on  her.  Between  the  two  of  you— your 
brother  and  you— it's  you  she's  nlost  afraid  of  "  There 
was  silence  for  a  second,  while  he  turned  his  gray  face 
fint  to  the  one  and  thra  to  the  other  of  his  two  listeners. 
Why  couldnt  you  all  have  let  her  be?  What  were 
you__after?    What  have  you  got  out  of  it?     /  c^ 

SG6. 

"Pay,  I  ^e^to  you  that  we  never  wanted  anything 
but  her  good,"Thor  cried,  with  a  passion  that  made  Loil 
turn  her  troubled  eyes  on  him  searchingly.  "If  mv 
toother  hasn't  told  you  what  he  meant,  I'U  do  it  now 
He  wanted  to  many  Rosie.  He  a«j  to  have  married  her' 
If  there  s  trouble  between  them,  it's  all  a  mistake.  lust 
let  me  see  her — "  •" 

But  Fay  dismissed  this  as  idle  talk.  "No  Dr  Thor 
Stones  of  that  kind  don't  do  any  good.  YcJur  brother 
never  wanted  to  marry  her,  or  meant  to,  eithei--not  any 
more  than  you.  What  you  did  want  and  what  you  did 
mean  God  only  ku^ws.  It's  mystery  to  me.  But  what 
lai  t  mystery  to  me  is  that  we're  all  done  for.  Now  that 
^e  s  gone,  we're  aU  gone-the  lot  of  us.  I've  kept  uo 
tm  now —  '^ 

"If  money  will  do  any  good,  Faj^"  Thor  began,  with 
a  catch  m  his  voice. 

J'^°'  ^'7^°^--  ■°°*  °°^-  ^°°«y  '^^eht  have  helped 
us  once  but  I  am't  gomg  to  take  a  price  for  my  Uttle 
girl's  unhappiness."  ^ 

"But  what  would  do  good,  Mr.  Pay?"  Lois  asked  "If 
you  d  only  tell  us—" 

"Then,  ma'an.  I  will.  It's  to  let  us  be.  Don't  come 
near  me  nor  mme  any  more-none  o'  you." 


II 


Wii 


Mi     I 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 


"Thor,  is  it  trae  that  Claude 
I  ve  never  hearu  of  it." 


She  turned  to  Thor. 
wanted  to  marry  Rosie?    .  ,.  „„„  „^^  ^,  „ - 

"W?™  ^'if^^i-T  ^'"''"  ^"y  ^^"^  ^-  -"^th  irony, 
men  and  women  on  the  earth.  But  it  don't  go  down  with 
r;.^'i  "f  I,fi|><i  that  my  little  girl  has  beef  takriX 
d^J.'^""'  *"  *°  '"^^  ^-^  "^^  -«  sets  wC  he 


shJfflL  r^  ^^  ""^  m  tones  so  mild  that,  as  he 
Ruffled  away,  leavmg  them  staring  at  each  othe^,  they 
scarcely  knew  that  there  had  been  a  threat  in  thetA 


CHAPTER  XXIII 
iTjf  ««  «i«>h««it  tale  thet  Thor  sts^mm^  out  to 
to  teU  Claude's  story  without  including  his  oJn  be^ 

makmg  a  dehberate  attempt  at  prevarication  ^f^,^ 
^;essed  <main  facts,  and  over^phas^°othi"  He 
tLhTt,"  T"  °^  ^""^aiation  which  bec^'acS 

^rw^fv^^  ^  "^'P^  *^*  ^«  ^^  '»°t  deceiving  h^ 
She  walked  on.  saymg  nothing  at  all.  Now  Md  th^' 
when  he  ventured  to  glance  at  her  in  pmfiT^  t.^^' 

1^^  ^JL^'^-  "^  ^«  that  s^S  'tf  ^S 
sweetoess  from  the  futiKty  of  his  efforts.    "mT^ 

J^^Z^^^"*"  *^'  ^°rt  ^t^y  -  his  mind  whilVte 

And  yet,  except  for  those  smiles  of  an  elusiveness  bevm„1 
^'  ^-^^^y^*^"  ^'  °f  being  strides LX  winJ 
^Ke,  to  be  givmg  her  mmd  entirely  to  the  course  of 
Caudes  romance.  "He  won't  marry  her  HeT^™ 
Elsie  Darling."  "wy  ner.    neu  marry 

An  hour  ago  the  assertion  would  have  aneered  hir.: 
SjtSksJl^""'*^'^*"*^'^**"'"^    "What  mis 

319 


^ih 


n 


'i 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

"Would  you  make  hin  marry  her?" 

"I'd  make  him  do  his  duty." 

She  gave  him  another  of  those  faint  smiles  of  which  the 
real  meaning  bafBed  him.  "  I  wouldn't  lay  too  much  stress 
on  that,  if  I  were  you.  To  marry  for  the  sake  of  doing 
one's  duty  is" — she  faltered  an  instant,  but  recovered 
herself — "is  as  likely  as  not  to  defeat  its  own  ends." 

He  was  afraid  to  ptirsue  the  topic  lest  she  should  speak 
more  plainly.  On  arriving  home  he  was  glad  to  see  her 
go  to  her  room  and  shut  the  door.  It  grieved  him  to 
tliink  that  she  might  be  brooding  in  silence,  but  even  that 
was  better  than  speech.  As  Uncle  Sim  and  Cousin  Amy 
Dawes  were  coming  to  Sunday-night  supper,  the  evening 
would  be  safe;  and  to  avoid  being  face  to  face  with  her 
in  the  meanwhile  he  went  out  again. 

Having  passed  an  hour  in  his  office,  he  strolled  up  into 
the  wood  above  the  village,  his  refuge  from  boyhood 
onward  in  any  hour  of  trouble.  There  was  space  here, 
and  air,  and  wlitude.  It  was  a  diversion  that  was 
almost  a  form  of  consolation  to  be  in  touch  with  the 
wood's  teeming  life.  Moreover,  the  trees,  with  their 
stately  aloofness  from  mortal  cares,  their  strifelessness 
and  strength,  shed  on  him  a  kind  of  benediction.  From 
long  association,  from  days  of  bird's-nesting  in  spring, 
and  camping  in  summer,  and  nutting  in  autumn,  and 
snow-shoeing  in  winter,  he  knew  them  almost  as 
individual  personalities  —  the  great  white  oaks,  the 
paper  birches,  the  white  pines  with  knots  that  were 
masses  of  dry  resin,  the  Canada  balsams  with  odorous 
boughs,  the  sugar-maples,  the  silver  maples,  the  beeches, 
the  junipers,  the  hemlocks,  the  hackmatacks,  with  the 
low-growing  hickories,  witch-hazels,  and  slippery-elms. 
Their  green  was  the  green  of  early  May — yellow-green, 
red-green,  bronze-green,  brown-green,  but  nowhere  as  yet 
the  full,  rich  hue  of  summer.  Here  and  there  a  choke- 
cherry  in  full  Uoam  swayed  and  shivered  like  a  wraith. 


THE   SIDE  OF   THE   ANGELS 

painted  trUliu^     Ttef^'  *^  ^y' ^slipper. .  and  the 

cinquefoil,  crowfoot   Zr^  Mw^^  f  ^'"°"- 
of  gold-colored  violets  '  ^"^  ^^  P*t^«» 

an?bSt?rdLpT^or„fr^  "•'  ^  ^^ 

andgetting'LS'whSe^^^^^^M^two  centuries 
There  were  few  if  BnTc^M^t^i^^  '^  rieces^ty. 
subtleties  to  consid^^  Tfil  f^^'  ^T' ,"°'  ''^  ^^ 

and  their  simples,  their  dves  and  th^;  ■  ,  ^^^  "*^ 

tion  .     It  wa^Tr^nft^ffl^"*  *•  «t°n"<enter  of  emo- 
sound  Of  the  SX:.S  ^-S -^V^J2?^the 

331 


if* 


1 1 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

of  seeing  a  black-and-white  back,  with  a  red  band  across 
the  busily  bobbing  head.  He  stopped  again  to  watch  a 
chipmunk  who  was  more  sharply  watching  him.  The 
little  fellow,  red-brown  and  striped,  sat  cocked  on  a  stone, 
his  fore  paws  crossed  on  his  white  breast  like  the  hands  of 
a  meek  saint  at  prayer.  Strolling  on  again,  he  paused 
from  time  to  time — to  listen  to  a  robin  singing  right  over- 
head, or  to  catch  the  liquid,  spiritual  chant  of  a  hermit- 
thrush  in  some  stiller  thicket  of  the  wood,  or  to  watch 
a  bluebird  fly  directly  into  its  nest,  probably  an  abandoned 
woodpecker's  hole,  in  a  decaying  Norway  pine.  These 
small  happenings  soothed  him.  Sauntering  and  pausing, 
he  came  up  to  the  high,  treeless  ridge  he  had  last  visited 
on  the  day  he  asked  Lois  to  marry  him. 

The  ridge  broke  sharply  downward  to  a  stretch  of 
undulating  farms.  Patches  of  green  meadowland  wer« 
intersprrsed  with  the  broad,  red  fields  in  which  as  yet 
nothing  had  begun  to  grow.  Had  it  not  been  Sunday 
the  farmers  would  have  been  at  work,  plowing,  sowing, 
harrowing.  As  it  was,  the  landscape  enjoyed  a  rich 
Sabbath  peace,  broken  only  by  the  swooping  of  birds,  out 
of  the  invisible,  across  the  line  of  sight,  and  on  into  the 
invisible  again.  It  was  all  beauty  and  promise  of  beauty, 
wealth  and  promise  of  wealth.  The  cherry-trees  were  in 
bloom;  the  pear  and  the  apple  and  the  quince  would  fol- 
low soon.  Above  the  farm-houses  tall  ehns  rose,  fan- 
shaped  and  garlanded. 

The  very  charm  of  the  prospect  called  up  those  questions 
he  had  been  trying  for  a  minute  to  shelve.  How  was  it 
that  in  a  land  of  milk  and  honey  men  were  finding  it  so 
hard  to  live?  How  was  it  that  with  conditions  in  which 
every  ms  i  might  have  enough  and  to  spare,  making  it  his 
aim  to  see  that  his  fellow  had  the  same,  there  could  be 
greed  and  ingenious  oppression  and  social  crime,  with  the 
menace  of  things  graver  still?  What's  the  matter  with 
us?  he  asked,  helplessly.  Was  it  something  wrong  with 
the  American  people?  or  was  it  something  wrong  with  the 

333 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

pSrrheT„L;^'^^^4^7^^tion  of  ^r.^, 

Was  man  a  being  SleThi^  ■  ^^'^  '«»P«  ^^  ? 
he  had  heart  in  SfSl  tt^"*"^  attainment,  as 
no  better  than  the  ruSc^t  "°™f  «^  **  ^^"^  he 
where  the  weasJw^^  ^^u^  °^  ">"  woodlari. 

on  the  Phoebe  and  theZ^^^T^^''  ^^  '^'  "^^ 
nmd  of  ferocity?  Had  m«^  ^  i"***' '"  ^  «idless 
or  was  it  as  fooS  ^Z^hiT^'^  ^"^^^  *''■''  ^t^^f 
as  to  ask  a  hawk  to°  p^  £     "^^  ^  brother-man 

Claude  and  iSs     Tl^^^t  '!^''°^'  ^^  his  father  ^ 

found himself^^olvUZvb^r!  '"'i^  ^'^  '°  ''"^  he 
the  social  web  they  wt£^o^'"  °S  ^"^^  ^ay;  and  from 
in  which  he  longi  to  sTl^.^-  ^^^*  "^*'°"^  'deals 
mankind.    But^uld  ,^^  m  ^"^  ^^^  *  sanctuary  for 

taowhowtomrilTon^'ArT'rl  ^*^^  "« 
man,  but  repeating  the  ^^  ^/.  w  ^^  ''^^  ^™"  faster- 
had  tuniedVS^I^th  *^*8^?*t-g^andfatherwho 

^  hroken-he^e^^^^^'^^V""  °'  '""^  "^-  ^^ 
out  for  number  one?  ^^'^  ''^  °°^y  booking 

him'^TeJ^rdSg^irrsl^rr^-^  ^- 

with  lobst;r  al  N^lSJ  ""^^  ^^  Amy  Dawe, 

.'.'gjy°"';<?"«  from  Uncle  Sim. 
youwer^TdisciS^frm^-ll-^  there?    ^-^''t 
rhat  was  the  reason.    Hilary's  idea     r,„'*      . 

S^^Sy^a^rLtSy^/^^?  ^^^^ 
tablespo<mfuls  instead  <rf^^'      ^  ^et  she  s  put  m  two 


IN 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE    ANGELS 

Being  rtone-deaf ,  Cousin  Amy  Dawes  took  nc  port  in 
conversation  except  what  she  herself  could  contribute. 
She  was  a  dignified  woman  who  had  the  air  of  being  hewn 
in  granite.  There  was  nothing  soft  about  her  but  three 
.  detachable  corkscrew  curls  on  each  side  of  an  immobile 
face  and  a  heart  that  every  one  knew  to  be  as  maternal 
OS  milk.  Dressed  in  stiff  black  silk,  a  heavy  gold  chain 
around  her  neck,  and  a  huge  gold  brooch  at  her  throat, 
and  wearing  fingerless  black-silk  mittens,  she  might  have 
walked  out  of  an  old  daguerreotype. 

"I  should  think,"  Thor  observed,  dryly,  "that  you'd 
find  your  religion  growing  rather  composite." 

"No.  T'other  way  "round.  Grows  simpler.  Get  their 
co-ordinating  principle — ^the  opmmon  denominator  that 
goes  into  'em  sJl." 

"That  is,"  Lois  said,  in  the  endeavor  to  be  free  to  think 
her  own  thoughts  by  keeping  him  on  a  hobby,  "you  look 
for  their  points  of  contact  rather  than  their  differences." 

"Oh,  you  get  beyond  the  differences.  'Beyond  these 
voices  there  is  peace.'  Doesn't  some  one  say  that  ?  Well, 
you  get  there.  If  you  can  s^ind  the  clamor  of  the  voices 
for  a  while  you  emerge  into  a  kind  of  still  place  where  they 
blend  into  one.  Then  you  find  that  they're  all  trying  to 
say  the  same  thing,  which  is  also  the  thing  you're  trying 
to  say  yourself." 

As  he  sat  back  in  his  chair  twisting  his  wiry  mustache 
with  a  handsome,  sun-burnt  hand,  Thor  felt  that  he  had 
him  where  he  had  been  hoping  to  get  him.  "But  what 
do  we  want  to  say,  Unde  Sim  ?  What  do  you  want  to  say  ? 
And  what  do  I?" 

The  old  man  held  his  sharp-pointed  beard  by  the  tip, 
ying  his  nephew  ob" 
Thor.    We're  all  like  1 


eying  his  nephew  obliquely.    "That's  the  great  secret! 

ike  little  babies,  who  from  the  time  they 

begin  to  hear  language  are  bursting  with  the  desire  to  say 


something;  only  they  don't  know  what  it  is  till  they  learn 

to  speak.    Then  it  comes  to  'em." 

"Yes,  but  what  comes  to  them?" 

334 


THE  S,„  „^  ^^^  ^^^^^^ 


-the  instinct  to  ««y. 


?«''«^ding'voS^^u^v?^'?««^«'««J. '"  ''''loud, 
for  old  SaUy  Gibbs.     ItThT!    ""^  °'  ^  ^Id  du<± 
I'll  take  it  to  her  m  we  «,l'fh.*t^  .^  ^^  the  poor  ^ 
your  cook?"    Without  wwU,!?';'^-    What  do  you  pTy 
tmuedlikeanomde-Id^W""  "^  "^"^  ^^  cot- 
Thor  leaned  ^^  the  tab l    '•' m*f' !  --th  it." ~" 
«  «us:   suppose  the  inst.W  1       "^**  ^  '^'^t  to  know 
<fne  to  usrisTh^  aLX'    h J:^  ^**<'-'^a'W  d^ 
stow  us  a  better  way!!SLlt?i°  "^^^  ^^*  ^ 
than  the  rather  poor^^^^^^  "f  °"^y.  I-ean. 

Can't  give  you  any  gvJ^tZT^  ^°^  ourselves?" 
you're  after.  Just  eot  t^^^!?'  ^'^.  «  that's  what 
yourself.  I^otCgb^t^//^'"'~F''ther.  and  LTf^ 
;t  comes  to  the  P^nal  K'J"^i'' ^^  «°°d ''h™ 
there  was  a  manZce  who  wTt  ^JS"  *''\"ational-weU. ) 
cO^ng.  'O  Israel,  tumTeeT  tf^"5  "^^^  the  land 
guess  he  knew  whaThe  was  a^^'f,  *hy  God.'  and  I 
turn  yel  Why  will  ye  Jk^  ''^*-  ^t  was.  'Turn  ye.' 
they   died.    InevitahC  ~!.      ^^^^  '^^'i  turn  and  «.' 

P-Pfej.an/X^^pri^-J-    ^«   -  "«^' 
the  Urd  its  God  it  '11  hve    and  ii^!S**'°"  ^  "*  ^^s  to 

•^ahn  with  regard  to  whi^i,  u  .  ^«  ^*^n.  lay  in  a 
•fdeties.  H^C^s^^«  h^  few  misgivia'^'^o^ 
^e  was  doing  i„  thou^S^f  sh^£,°5  ^^^^  «-W^ 
afternoon  she  had  go4  to  hS  ^^  *»^  ^hen  in  the 
She  was  standing  beW  h-.     •  ^^  ^^  shut  the  door 

r^  there  ^th't^" 'pa^s^I^^TS'"^  *""  ^^^ 
How  awesome,  how  -.^birSiaf^^  ^^^^W 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

noble  Thor  ghould  have  let  his  heart  go-oerha™  th. 
ve^t  of  hi,  heart-to  anything  sol^SSSTt  t 
unformed  so  unequal  to  himself!  It  was  t^v«L^ 
ne«,  h.s  mcredibility,  that  overwhelmed  h^  Sr^nd 
&ted  Itself  on  it.  for  the  time  being,  to  the  exdiSrof 
other  considerations.  Thor  was  liki  m^ J^!!fi  t? 
could  be  caught  by  a  pretty  f^!  He  ^T^ZtbSy 
and  soul  that  she  had  thought  him  f«e  f^  pSt  fS 

It.     It  weakened  him.  it  lowered  him  ^^ 

hi.hl^^  f?  V'°^  ^^^  ""'""to  '^hen  he  began  to  tell 
his  haltmg  tale  about  Claude.     It  wa*  nitJf,.iVk  ■ 

which  he  had  betrayed  himsdf. 'VZ'Cshe^If  ' " 
Zr^  1^  *,A'"'-^  ^"'  ■*«  had  been  Juick  to  Sufte 
W  shfv  ^"ri^'K*  of  «»"e  secret  grief  on  Thor's  pj^ 

^^P  rZ'       ''"'!  'V    ^^*  Thor  should  be  trying  to 

r  fir^h^sf:;:^- KpeiJ^'  %^:^^^ 

even  though  there  was  scathing  aZTZ^'uZ^d 
^l^^  Ph^  in  him  that  she  despised. 
c«^^^n^^^°i.' J'"  ^"^"^^  ''^  that  when  the  guests 
STlnH  -^^  ^  *°  ^^'  *''^  her  attention.  Wheft^ 
feft.  and  Thor  was  seeing  them  to  the  door,  she  t^k  th^ 
opportunity  to  slip  up  to  her  nx>m  again  She  locted  tte 
door  behind  her.  and  locked  the  doof  that  ^mSlt^ 

Something  had  come  to  her;   she  was  sure  of  it     n 
h^  come  almost  since  that  ^ftemooT  uVl^  „„ 

s^t'";  LT£a?^r  °'  "°  -'-^-     I^  w^a* 
•Fuit.  a  nre.  tnat  made  her  a  woman  who  couM  t»  t«^,a 

a  woman  a  man  might  be  proud  of.    She  l^^e^l 

336 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

which  it  w^d  have  £,  t^V  •  r"""'  ""  ''««^'» 
she  was  the  true^JTthe^l'^u  ^  *'^''*-  ^^at 
be.    She  had  kZm  °t  brfoTJ^J^.'^''^"  '^°'  to 

course,  in  a  manner  thit  rfj/i  »  ^'  •  .  ^  "  "latter  of 
for  shrinking  nS^eJS^^awl"'"'^  ""^  "^^  "<=-^*y 

ing-table.  In  TSri  ^TT!:!*''?"  °"  ""«  d™^' 
feeling  of  helplessn^  It  wL  "  ^  ,f  f  '^'^  '^"^  « 
ought  to  do  Wh^  wal  ™^-,  ,,  .  ™''  '°  "^  '^''"t  she 
whohadpracticXtoWh^l^Lt*^  ^^^^^  *  ''"''band 
because  he  couldn't  Zn^  o  ''^'^  "^"^^  *'='  only 

Other  questi^SinTJs^^S^n"".''  '°'"^.  "^'"^^ 
protests  and  flashw  of^d^I?-       J""'  ?"'=stions  and 

baclctandingT^aVtitud^^S'  ^'  ^^  ^'  "^en, 
discern  the  ^  ^ITtl^y"^^:'^"  '.f "«  *° 

ought  to  do  <i:S!>g"^L  ttlKo^r"^^  ^  '^  ^"-^  ■*« 

«t  i^^.r^Sft""'  "i-fJ  ^"^«  Sin,  had  said 
She  sh^er  hL^°'  1°  ^J^^^"^^-  "nd  see." 
P«sent.  Shf  S^t  ^nT^'^S  *  T  ^**''-^'«A^  at 
Whatever  the  pSwiSTher^'iC'"'  ^'  "^<^"'t- 
bring  befon.  ^^^7T^'' T ''°'^'^^  ^"^^ 

side.  ^  '"Xument,  but  it  drew  her  toward  her  bed- 

33  7 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE  ANGELS 

petitions  would  Jiave  Sd  nom«„^^  "^^  Conventional 
she  had  no  otheiTto  oto  «^  ^^'  ^^  ^'^  ^  '»<»»«>* 
that   she   S  h^"L^I^^*^,'»°«=i<«dy 


CHAPTER  XXIV 


"^^  the  warning  of  herslu'    ,  ^°*  y«'-'    Not  yet^ 

"wl^h'T^^-'f «-"-"-^  ^'- 

With  Thor  she  kept  to  ^t^T  !?  *^P*  control. 

5^g.  clearly  to  hfe  r^^fel^*  *«»  no  pe«o„al 

^e  Mexican  rising  under  Madm.^^^*  ^^  talked  of 

the  papers  of  that  morning     ^•,!^^<*  ''^  discussed  in 

"n  his  mind  was,  "  Doe^/"    ,7  .  ^^  that  the  auesH^ 

went  to^see  Dr.  hil^'  °°  «  ^*  ^d,  taking  a  paS^i^ 

^ds'inTlii^tiS^^  ti^e  o,d«,t  in  the  village 
jf°«  enter  the  Squa,^  ''S^  two  of  the  rambling^e 
•ts  upper  and  lowTr^  oTtl^^*^,'^-'^^  naye!^^' 
*«=«etly  within  a  groTe  of^  "  °^^«  '^dows,  reti^ 
f°!^  slimmer  throS  dSi^h'  ""^^  *  *^'  ^  S 

STplit  "-^^  ^S-^-S-wJS-.? 

-'ptlS.?r.;ti-^d-^-  '>'  «>«  delta' 
'^hich  nothingbutX  T  ^  ^""ttouse  Lane  W 

Jtwasthetimeforbulbstobeiaflower  and  .^        • 

ajj     *"  "°''w.  and  the  spring 


i     ,1  1 

^ 

1     111 

\' 

THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

perennials.  Tulips  in  a  wide,  dense  mass  bordered  the 
brick  pavement  that  led  from  the  gate  to  the  front  door. 
Elsewhere  could  be  seen  daffodils,  irises,  peonies  just 
bursting  into  bloom,  and  long,  drooping  curves  of  bleeding- 
heart  hung  with  rose-and-white  pendents.  By  a  comer 
of  the  house  the  ground  was  indigo-dark  with  a  thick 
little  patch  of  squills. 

It  was  a  relief  to  Lois  to  find  the  old  man  himself, 
bareheaded  and  in  an  alpaca  house-jacket,  rooting  out 
weeds  on  the  lawn,  his  thin,  gray  locks  tossed  in  the 
breeze.  On  seeing  her  pause  and  look  over  the  clump  of 
wiegelia,  which  at  this  point  smothered  the  rail,  he  raised 
himself,  dusted  the  earth  from  his  hands,  and  went  for- 
ward. They  talked  at  first  jjist  as  they  stood,  with  the 
budding  shrubs  between  them. 
"Oh,  Dr.  Hilary,  I'm  so  anxious  about  Rosie  Fay." 
"Are  you  now?"  As  neither  age  nor  gravity  could  sub- 
due the  twinkle  in  his  eyes,  so  sympathy  couldn't  quench 
it.     "WeU,  lammeself." 

"  I  think  if  I  could  see  her  I  might  be  able  to  help  her. 
Or,  rather,"  she  went  on,  nervously,  "I  think  I  ought  to 
see  her,  whether  I  can  help  her  or  not.  Have  you  seen 
her?" 

"I  have  not,"  he  declared,  with  Irish  emphasis.     "The 
puss  takes  very  good  care  that  I  sha'n't,  so  she  does. 
She's  only  got  to  see  me  coming  in  the  gate  to  fly  off  to 
Duck  Rock;  and  that,  so  her  mother  tells  me,  is  all  they 
see  of  her  till  nightfall.     It's  three  days  now  that  she's 
been  struck  with  a  fit  of  melancholy,  or  maybe  four." 
"Do  you  know  what  the  trouble  is?" 
He  evaded  the  question.    "  Do  you  ?" 
"I  do — partly." 

"  Then  you'll  be  the  one  to  tackle  her.  As  yet  I  haven't 
asked.  I  prefer  to  know  no  more  about  people  than  what 
they  tell  me  themselves." 

She  found  it  possible  to  secure  his  aid  on  the  unexplained 
ground  that  there  had  been  a  misunderstanding  between 
230 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

^"tJrS."^^ArrCJ^«  -5  -de.  and  Ja^  Pay 
....  T  „-,i     „  ^  ""^  *  *«««'  that  I  can  heic  hw     t  a^Z. 


say  I  can't.    But  if 


can  heip  her.    I  dare 


"W«ii    4.1. ^  **"''*  "'"y  sec  ner— 

Ld  anarch.  ^H?clr^t*^r"^r^"°'"«°«'^'- 
thwarted,  aTyou  mLhTTv  ^r,  ^^  T'^'^.  '^'^^  "^^^s 
even.  He  didn^  S  St'  ^  detamnmation  to  get 
because  they  ne^^^t"  at  Vr^  "T ^  ""  '""'^  """nV 
He  took  i7L„     •  ^°^®'  ^<^  °ther  people  had  it 

ne  took  It  more  in  protest  than  in  ereed   Jf  «,=*. 
excuse  for  him."  ^^       greea.  it  that  s  any 

'•The  mother  is  better,  isn't  she?" 
that  wav    ISr^  "^^'^  '^^  "Sht  mind,  if  she'U  only  stay 
S  Zl  £.  'Z  rm  r  hi  '".f  tantrums'e^S^ 
trouble  will  ^d  th^  •'  ^'^  ***  *h«  daughter's 

coSS^yin'^St*^  "f  ^^y  ^«i  «  the  wel- 

Ive  reaUy  only  come  to  see  Rosie   Mrs   Pa„»  t   • 

«plamed,nof  without  nervousnesT  when  thl'i!^'^'    ^^ 
were  alone  on  the  door^sten     "^'  t  ^  ■?   ^      ?"™ 

1;.^  you  u  get  It.    It  s  more  n  her  father  and  I  can  do." 


p»,t,-„     u  .J     ..     "^ "  "e'^  tattler 
Pjhaps  she'd  talk  to  me.    Girls  often 
to  a  stranger,  when  they  won't  to  one  of 


aji 


will  talk  to  a— 
their  own." 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

"Wen,  you  can  try."    Ih  spite  of  the  coldness  of  the 
handsome  features,  somethipg  in  the  nature  of  a  new  life, 
a  new  softening  humanity,  was  struggling  to  assert  ^tself' 
"We  can't  get  a  word  out  of  her.    She'll  neither  roeak 
nor  sleep,  nor  eat,  nor  do  a  hand's  turn.    It's  the  work 
that  bothers  me  most— not  so  much  that  it  needs  to  be 
done  as  because  it 'd  be  a  reUef  to  her."    She  added,  with 
a  shy  wistfulness  that  contrasted  oddly  with  the  hard 
glint  in  her  eyes,  "I've  found  that  out  myself." 
"Have  you  any  idea  where  she  is?" 
She  pointed  toward  Duck  Rock.    "Oh,  I  suppose  she's 
over  there.    She  was  to  have  picked  the  cucumbers  this 
mommg,  but  I  see  she  hasn't  done  it." 
"Has  Mr.  Fay  told  you  whht  the  trouble  is?" 
"Wdl,  he  has.    But  then  he's  so  romantic.    Always 
was.     Lands  sake!    I  don't  pay  any  attention  to  young 
peoples  gomgs-on.    Seen  too  much  of  it  in  my  own 
day.    I  don't  say  that  the  young  fellow  hasn't  been  fooHsh 
7-and  I  don  t  say— you'U  excuse  me!— that  Rode  ain't 
]ust  as  good  as  he  is,  even  if  he  ti  Archie  Masterman's 
son — 

*'0h  no,  nor  I,"  Lois  hastened  to  interpose. 
"But  there's  nothing  wrong.    I've  asked  her— and  I 
know.    I'm  sure  of  it." 
Lois  spoke  eagerly.    "Oh  yes;  so  am  L" 

t.  "^J'^^  ^^^^'^  *'^*"  ^«  ^™t  on  '«tl>  a  touch  of 
her  old  haughtiness  of  spirit:  "And  she's  every  mite  as 
good  as  he  is.  It's  all  nonsense.  Pay's  talking  as  if  it 
was  some  young  lord  who'd  jilted  a  girl  beneath  him. 
Young  lord,  mdeed!  I'll  young  loixl  him,  if  he  ever  comes 
my  way.  I  teU  Rosie  not  to  demean  herself  to  grieve 
for  them  that  are  no  better  than  herself.  It's  nothing  but 
romantics,"  she  explained  further.  "I've  no  patience 
with  Fay— talking  as  if  some  one  ought  to  shoot  some  one 
or  commit  murder.  That's  the  way  Matt  b^an.  Pay 
ought  to  know  better  at  his  time  of  life.  I  declare  he  has 
no  more  sense  than  Rosie." 

333 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

^tl^^.^^^  J» '^«1  «Po„  to  defend  Pa,, 
whenheseesl"         ^^^  ^^  "**»«"/  feels  indignJt 

^.likeco^g  JS^^J^^e«ung  lacking  in"^ 
,     plain,  though  I  can't  get  Pav  t^  ^-    *  "°''  as  plain  as 
« -!"  talk  to  a  sto^*^^  ^  ^-r,-;,    You  „,ight' 
got  his  nose  stuck  into  a  bool     r  w     J^-'  ^^'^  he's 
*at  Carlyie;   and  th^t  Sn   1^^  ^\^'^  "«»«  of 
Ins  Bible.  I  ten  him.  and Z^.t^t!,^"?^-    ^^y'"* 
they  mean.    It's  D„dc  r^Z  ,?°?  *  '^^  understand  what 
of  her  fine  lips,  wMTh^^ds  "  7^*  °°'  "^"^  ^  "^^^^ 
~ni^  of  her  apron-'^t^Ip  "1  ""T^^y  at  the 
af'^dof.    Itkindo'ha,mLm?„,f.'^''  ^^^^  ^'""  ""ost 
and  it  kind  o'  haunts  R^e  "         ^U  the  time  I  was  sick; 

t«™3T^y.  Kg^el^?- ■•  ^'-^  ^^.  as  she 
w-th  eyes  that  might  wfS^tt  ^  fare  after  her 
hv^  from  the  s^  d^^  ^°^  °^  *«  ''on'an  de- 

tt^oraS^^^^f^g'Jr e^t'^V^.''^''  among 
^^'^  or  two  on  tte  ^S^rt-n**"?"^  ^  oarly 
Now.  and  thence  to  L^^'"''^^'  *«  boulevard 

T^oughshehadnotbLhJ^c.^h"'^  "P  *''«  "«fi- 
of  childhood,  she  knew7h»^?^     ^^  beny-picking  days 

to  be  found.'  LTZ^t^Zl^1,'^^°^'^--V 
path  that  ran  beneath^^°il^'  ^^K  limbed  the 
spleenwort.  and  ^*fS  "f  ^^'^  ^^'^^  °f  b'ak^! 
f^t.  plaintive  ^nZ^k  Son^  f  *?"''^^  *°  J'^'-  a 
*as  poignantly  thira^d^e^f!S^J^''f^-  The  voice 
sound  she  had  heard  fi^i^J^*  **^  f"^^-  melancholy 
Swit^erland.    H^e^t ''^^^,^'''^^'  P-'P^  in 

the  words:  '**°  unable  to  detect 

*33 


I 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

"Ah,  dinna  ye  mind,  Lord  Gregory, 
By  bonnie  Irvinside, 
Where  first  I  owned  the  virgin  love 
I  long,  long  had  denied?" 

Though  the  singer  was  invisible,  Lois  knew  she  could 
not  be  far  away,  since  the  voice  was  too  weak  to  carry. 
She  was  about  to  go  forward  when  the  faint  melody  began 
again: 

"An  exile  from  my  father's  ha' 
And  a'  for  loving  thee; 
At  least  be  pity  to  me  shown, 
If  love  it  may  na'  be." 

Placing  the  voice  now  as  near  the  great  oak-tree  circled 
by  a  seat,  just  below  the  point  where  the  ascending 
bluff  broke  fifty  feet  to  the  pond  beneath,  Lois  went 
rapidly  up  the  last  few  yards  of  the  ascent. 

Rosie  was  seated  with  her  back  to  the  gnarled  trunk, 
while  she  looked  out  over  the  half-mile  of  dancing  blue 
wavelets  to  where,  on  the  other  side,  the  brown,  wooden 
houses  of  the  Thorley  estate  swept  down  to  the  shore. 
She  rose  on  seeing  the  visitor  apprtKich,  showing  a  startled 
disposition  to  run  away.  This  she  might  have  done  had 
not  Lois  caught  her  by  the  hand  and  detained  her. 

"I  know  all  about  everything,  Rosie — about  every- 
thing." 

She  meant  that  she  understood  the  situation  not  only 
as  regarding  one  brother,  but  as  regarding  both.  Rosie's 
response  was  without  interest  or  curiosity.     " Do  you?" 

"Yes,  Rosie;  and  I  want  to  talk  to  you  about  it.  Let 
us  sit  down." 

Still  holding  the  girl's  hands  in  a  manner  that  compelled 
her  to  reseat  herself,  she  examined  the  little  face  for  the 
charm  that  had  thrown  such  a  spell  on  Thor.  With  a 
pang  she  owned  to  herself  that  she  found  it.  No  one 
could  look  at  Thor  with  that  expression  of  entreaty  with- 
out reaching  all  that  was  most  tender  in  his  soul. 
»34 


THE   SIDE  OF  Tup    *m^„ 
PnrtJ,.  ANGELS 

i'or  the  moment,  however  tv,.*      • 
*°  pass-    "Not  yeil    N^  *^*  P°«t  ««t  be  allowed 

^onthatwasSngtoUSatT^f^^  "''^^  t°S 
!!^*'y' ^«rt  4S5y  .^i°^*«r;  She  went  o^ 
Pened  Rosie  dear.  MdW  W  i^^  ^  ^^at  hap- 
Iw^yautoletmehdpyo!^'^**^'^f°ryou:  and 

H^^^'^was^S^^j^'-^--^         ^es 
Put  to  her  in  t),,*       •     .     '^°  you  do?" 

^«tion  mcStXj^S'^  "^^-  ^^  fo-d  the 

With  you,  Rosie     W»  1    u     ."^^  answer:    "T  can  k! 

.  "Ther^  w^^-t^^^  ^^de  by  side."        ^  *=^  '^ 

""^n.".  '""•^^'^"^"-t-    I'dmtherbeleft 

h^  b4°S{lKa?pSu:edt  T't  -•«>  ^  -*^  - 
I  teow  he  woa-t."  ^  ^^  *  ^'dden,  darting  paiT 

"iSiL^ie'XtS^ifhedid... 

..  '""''''""''^^  I  Chappy  or  not-if  he'd 

;  T^-.^^'^i^Srl etS;-  -  ^°«  -  no  hope 
face^itwith-"  ^  ^°^°°t«»ie.  isn't  it  bett^       - 

^-  pSLt  Tfa^^itTh^  IS^^   Y?'  ^Sbt  as  weU 
tWn  out  into  the  sun.    "^^^l  "P  ''^  *«  «»ts  and 

But  you're  not  p^ed  t^T  \'?°^^S  'eft  to  face  " 
«>ote  are  still  in  Z  Si     Z'  '^  ^^  '^'  Ro^e.^our 
.  Rosie  made  a  HtSeTestu^     •fuP^'P'* '^^^  need  yo;!^ 
ey«i  them  all  I  ^  ^'^'  ,?">  P^tas  outwarf.  ^r^^ 

'■v«.yauf.^sonoi!--i:;^f;;];" 


335 


natural.    We  do  feel 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

empty  of  anything  tnire  to  give  when  there's  been  a  great 
drain  on  us.  But  somehow  it's  the  people  who've  given 
most  who  always  have  the  power  to  go  on  giving— after  a 
little  while.    With  time—" 

The  girl  interrupted,  not  impatiently,  but  with  vacant 
indifference.  "What's  the  good  of  time — ^when  it's  going 
to  be  always  the  same?" 

"The  good  of  time  is  that  it  brings  comfort — " 

"I  don't  want  comfort.    I'd  rather  be  as  I  am." 

"That's  perfectly  natural— for  now.  But  time  passes 
whether  we  will  or  r.o;  and  whether  we  will  or  no,  it 
softens—" 

"Time  can't  pass  if  you  won't  let  it." 

"Why — why,  what  do  you  mean?" 

"I  mean— just  that." 

Lois  clasped  the  girl's  hands  desperately.  "  But,  Rosie, 
jrou  must  live.  Life  has  a  great  deal  in  store  for  you  still — 
perhaps  a  great  deal  of  happiness.  They  say  that  life 
never  takes  anjrthing  from  us  for  which  it  isn't  prepared 
to  give  us  compensation,  if  we'll  only  accept  it  in  the  right 
way." 

Roae  shook  her  head.    "  I  don't  want  it." 

Lois  tried  to  reach  the  dulled  spirit  by  another  channel. 
"But  we  aU  have  disappointments  and  sorrows,  Rosie. 
I  have  mine.    I've  great  ones." 

The  aloofness  in  Rosie's  gaze  seemed  to  put  miles  between 
them.  "That  doesn't  make  any  difference  to  me.  If 
you  want  me  to  be  sorry  for  them — I'm  not.  I  can't  be 
sorry  for  any  one." 

In  her  desire  to  touch  the  frozen  springs  of  the  girl's 
emotions,  Lois  said  what  she  would  have  supposed  herself 
incapable  of  saying.  "Not  when  you  know  what  they 
are? — ^when  you  know  what  one  of  them  is,  at  any  rate! — 
when  you  know  what  one  of  them  must  be  I  You're  the 
only  person  in  the  world  except  myself  who  can  know." 

Rosie's  vcrice  was  as  lifeless  as  before.    "I  can't  be 
sorry.    I  don't  know  why— but  I  can't  be." 
336 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

"S!,r"v  •"  *^t  y«>'«  glad  I  have  to  suffer?" 

Lois  was  baffled.  The  impenetrable  idness  wm^«L 
difficult  to  deal  with  than  i^ve  (Sef  ^^  ZZ^ 
^^e  appeal.    "And  then.  RoJe.'S.  th'^.^l^Jt"^ 

H^L^  ZS^^  ^^v*^"  "^^  "»«»  «^<i  nothing, 
to^i^f  u  ^u™  .^ything.  it  was  on  the  quivering 
S^^nHW^***"^*^"'^-    When  with  ^flaTrf 

Su^rthf^iLt^i^X'i^rai^^^ 

^^er  e^  wande«d  rS^bL^V^^Ton^ 
^^e  «.other  attempt.  "You  believe  in  God. 
^There  was  a  second's  hesitation.    "I  don't  know  as  I 

^^^^  ^  "^^  ^  hesitation.  "I  don't  cam 
whether  there  is  or  not."  ^  aon  t  care 

l^^,b^  '^^  8^  °°  further,  it  hurt  her  to  see  the 
I  will  J.^iZJ^^^  ^.^  «°  "^y-  'wouldn't  you?  Then 
L^S  -^;<^\t^^/ba?i  T^ 

rat^^S^tS/JS-J^-tiencewirhi^' 

tolff^°^h^.''°'^-"*''^^'='P'^y-    In  sheer  incapacity 

wfiii*!    ^/°"*°"*'-*^e?    I'm  gome  your  wav 
We  could  go  along  together."  ^^     ^' 

"I  don't  want  any  dinner.    Ill  go  home-by  and  by." 
337 


r 

V| 

-rt-- 

J 

THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

Lois  fdt  herself  diamiMed.  "  Very  well,  Rode.  I'll  My 
good-by  for  now.  But  it  will  only  be  for  a  little  while. 
You  understand  that,  don't  you?  I'm  not  going  to  let 
you  throw  me  off.  I'm  going  to  ding  to  you.  I've  got 
the  right  to  do  it,  because— because  the  very  thing  that 
makes  you  tmhappy — makes  me." 

In  the  eyes  that  Rosie  lifted  obliquely  Lois  read  such 
unutterable  things  that  she  turned  away.  She  carried 
that  look  with  her  as  she  went  down  the  hill  beneath  the 
oaks  and  between  the  sunlit  patches  of  brakes,  spleenwort, 
and  lady-ferns.  What  scenes,  what  memories,  had  called 
it  up?  What  part  in  those  scenes  and  memories  had 
been  played  by  Thor?  What  had  been  the  actual  experi- 
ence between  this  girl  and  him?  Would  she  ever  know? 
Had  she  better  know?  What  should  she  do  if  she  were 
to  know?  Once  more  the  questions  she  had  been  trying 
to  repress  urged  themselves  for  answer;  but  once  more  sh« 
controlled  herself  through  the  counsel  of  the  inner  voice: 
"Not  yetl    Not  yetl" 


CHAPTER  XXV 

her  out  of  them.    Her^^ I^fl  Vu*^^'.  ^*  "««?* 
"umrng  as  a  sickness  unto  death  '""""'**^e«  «  ««- 

bis^^rof^^^trSr^ii-jir'*^'^ 

strained,  she  perceived  bv^lZ^'J^^ *" ^'^ "^^e* 
that  Claude  ^^^gSs^^d^f,  1  "^^  '^^ 
aisle.  She  knew  th^Xt  if  Z^^.Z^J^  '°"8.  green 
been  no  other  ^^^S^l^Z.^'^  f.^"T  'fl 

topt  ten  or  twdve  servanlToS^eSt;^rt'"k:S° 
knew  enoueh  of  rifl»/4o  ♦«  »,.  .  ^^naiea  it.    Kosie 

bear  dov^fte  s2f"t^s?lTL*^V°"*  «^*»  °°' 
There  would  he^LSf  pnncehness  of  Kving. 

part  as  T^^^^^'TS''^  "^^,^  ^ 
gone,  he  was  gone.    It  was  the  «^.         '    0°«  l'^  »« 

439 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

It  wu  when  ihe  had  oome  to  the  end  of  her  tUrd  row 
and  waa  about  to  turn  into  the  fourth  that  the  aenae  of 
the  impoHibility  of  going  on  iwept  over  her.  "Oh,  I 
caa'tl"  She  dropped  her  arms  to  her  aide.  "I  can't. 
I  can't."  She  meant  only  that  she  couldn't  go  on  just 
then;  but  in  the  back  of  her  mind  there  was  the  oooviction 
that  she  would  never  go  on  again. 

She  continued  to  stand  with  arms  hanging  and  head 
drooped  to  one  side,  closed  in  by  vines,  with  flowers  of  the 
hue  of  light  around  her  like  a  halo,  and  bees  murmuring 
among  them.  It  was  not  merely  that  she  was  listlen  and 
incapable;  the  world  seemed  to  have  dropped  away. 
She  wiis  marooned  on  a  rock,  with  an  ocean  of  nothingness 
about  her.  Everything  sha  wanted  had  gone — sunk, 
vani^ied.  It  had  come  within  sight,  like  mirage  to  the 
shipwrecked,  only  to  torture  her  with  what  she  couldn't 
have.  It  was  worse  than  if  it  had  never  shown  itself  at 
all.  Love  had  appeared  with  one  man,  money  with  the 
other.  Love  and  money  were  two  of  the  three  things  she 
cared  for;  the  poor,  shiftless  family  was  the  third.  Since 
the  first  two  had  gone,  the  last  must  follow  them.  Quite 
consciously  and  delibeimtely  Rosie  lifted  her  hands  with  a 
little  lamentable  effort,  letting  them  drop  again,  and  so 
renounced  her  burden. 

She  crept  back  to  the  spot  whence  she  had  risen,  and 
lay  down.  There  was  a  khid  of  ritual  in  the  act.  It  was 
not  now  a  mere  stricken,  physical  crouching  as  when  she 
had  turned  away  from  Claude.  It  was  something  more 
agnificant.  It  was  withdrawal  from  work,  from  life,  from 
all  the  demands  she  had  put  forth  so  fiercely. 

Renouncing  these,  Rosie  also  renounced  Claude.  It 
was  a  proof  of  the  degree  to  which  she  had  dismissed  him 
that  when,  a  half-hour  later,  she  heard  a  rustling  in  the 
vines  behind  her  it  never  occurred  to  her  that  he  might 
have  come  back.  She  knew  alrenciy  that  he  would  never 
come  back.  The  fatalism  of  her  little  soul  left  her  none 
of  those  uncertainties  which  are  saf^uards  against  de* 
S40 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

2^  She  raued  Im  bmi  ud  ioolnd:  but  the  mr 
•Mctly  the  person  ihe  knew  the  would  ^  ""  "^  -^ 
Antonio  grinned,  and  announced  dinner  The  m^ht  «/ 
Wi  young  mistress  half  littinc  halflvSiT™.  VL  *  . 
■truck  him  as  droll.         "°°«' '^^ 'J^  on  the  ground 

Ro^e  got  up  and  bmihed  herself  again  She  lm».  it 
^bedmner-time  The  f«rt  had  b^t  thelLjThi 
mmdaU  through  thew  minute,  of  comforting^^oT 

year,  that  d,e  had  rebeUrf^Li^  .  d^'  ^  *««  « 

wan  that.    She  reahzed  it  as  she  stood  where  she  waT 

Nevetttel«s.  she  emerged  slowly  from  the  iunX  of 
VMe.  and  followed  Antonio  down  the  long.  mtC^df 
There  was  a  compulsion  in  the  day's  routine  to  whfdTS; 

length  of  the  greenhouse  before  it  came  tn  h»,  »i!.*  •! 
was  precisely  to  the  day's  nmtST^tXc^dn^t  ^L 
Anything  was  better  than  that.    Any  fate^^^: 

T^J^'  **  ^^^-  ^^  ^  P^^b^y  by  this  time 
returned  from  town,  would  be  sitting  down  to  t^e 

fro  between  the  table  and  the  pantry  or  the  rto4     ae 
»4i 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGEL? 


would  snatch  a  bite  for  herself  in  the  intervals  of  attend 
<   .{  ance. 

Rosie  revolted.  She  revolted  not  against  the  drudgery, 
which  was  part  of  the  matter-of-course  of  living  unless  one 
"kept  a  girl";  she  revolted  against  the  living  itself.  It 
was  all  over  for  her.  In  proof  that  it  was  she  turned  her 
back  on  it. 

Her  moving  away  was  at  first  without  purpose.  If  her 
feet  strayed  into  the  familiar  path  that  ran  down  the  hill 
between  the  hothouses  and  the  apple-trees  it  was  because 
there  was  no  other  direction  to  take.  She  hadn't  meant  to 
go  up  through  the  wood  to  Duck  Rock  before  she  found 
herself  doing  it.  The  newly  leafing  oaks  were  a  shimmer  of 
bronze-green  above  her,  while  she  trod  on  young  ferns 
that  formed  a  carpet  such  as  was  never  woven  by  hands. 
Into  it  were  worked  white  star-flowers  without  number, 
with  an  occasional  nodding  trillitmi.  The  faint,  bitter 
scent  of  green  things  too  tender  as  yet  to  be  pungent  rose 
from  everything  she  crushed.  She  was  not  soothed  by 
nature,  like  Tbor  Masterman.  She  had  too  much  to  do 
with  the  raising  of  plants  for  sale  to  take  much  interest 
in  what  the  earth  produced  without  money  and  without 
price.  If  it  had  not  been  that  her  mind  was  as  nearly 
as  possible  empty  of  thought,  she  wouldn't  have  paused 
to  watch  an  indigo-bunting,  whose  little  brown  mate  was 
probably  near  by,  hop  upward  from  branch  to  branch  of  a 
solitary  juniper,  his  body  like  a  blue  flower  in  the  dark 
boughs,  while  he  poured  forth  a  song  that  waxed  louder 
as  he  mounted.  She  observed  him  idly  and  passed 
onward  because  there  was  nothing  but  that  to  do. 

Her  heart  was  too  dead  to  fed  much  emotion  when  she 
emerged  on  the  spot  where  she  had  been  accustomed  to 
keep  her  trysts  with  Claude.  Her  bysts  with  Claude 
had  been  at  night;  she  had  other  sorts  of  association  with 
this  sunwiit  in  the  daytime.  AU  her  life  she  had  been 
used  to  come  here  berrying.  Here  she  came,  too,  with 
PoUy  Wilson  and  other  girl-friends— when  she  had  any — 
343 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

spot  bemgiherefore  not  ^r^!2°^*^*«'''^-    The 
Claude,  ie  ^JjSf if ^,"^  *°  --°^-  "^ 

was  only  an  upwai^SSfh,^  ^  ''°°^-  ^^y°"''  '*  th«« 
daquef^l^d  ;S^^,^8«  of  f^.  «tan«i  with 

ItwasbutamiZfu;*'^SS"Z''b2^t^^  ^''"'• 
sea.  but  it  gave  an  imoiS^n  ^  !r\?    ^  *°  ^  """Mature 

bench,  with  o^e^L^T^^^^'  ^^"^^^  °«  ^^ 
chose,  see  nothing  Wci!?!^*  ""^  °^>  °°«  ^°uld,  if  one 
but  sky  and  Ser  aLJ^T  i^"^.  There  was  nothing 
was  not  even  a  boat  ™  Zi  uu  "°°"  ^^^'-"^  there 

The  only  sounds  wl'^thS^rh"'  ^  ^  '^  *«  ^ing. 
the  Thoriey  estate  ttTe  wll  Ifnmienng  far  over  on 
at  this  distill  wS  ^rnTT^'^u-  ^  ^^*"'=  ^-  '^Wch 
a  bee.  andX  s^^  of  2T  disturbmg  than  the  n,unnur  of 
the  t;ee-tor  ^R^^ft  ^^°-^'^e'  ^^ted  now  fixa„ 
««.  but  without  nS^"  r  r^'  ?^^  ^*°"t  Pleas- 
tio.;  into  nSlnT^^r'ly  ^  ""'Eht  be  that  absorp- 
dl^t  seeks  abtSZirSS  ^^  ^^^  ^  *^^^ 

thS?^'Sdd°L"^Si'wf  ,l"^r  ^^"^  -'y- 

thing  she  was  noJty,S\rth^Clf  f "  /'^  '^^ 

S^'SetSSVS^^^--^eai"be£^  ^'^a: 
memory  of  7t"fvS^h°^,ff  TT'^''   *°"eh  the 

never  found  anv  onrvTrh^;      /J^  **  P""^"'  ^he  had 

«neeting^S,Wa^r^*y°'^°*"^.  *••*'•  ^"»  «<* 
she  had  the  iZZ   .^  soul-6U,ng  m  itself.     Now  that 

aftem^  wU  oT'  ^  ^'^'^  """^  using  it  as  the 

a43 


i 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

Being  on  the  spot  where  she  had  first  met  him,  she  could 
re-enact  the  scene.  She  knew  the  very  raspberry-bine 
at  which  she  had  been  at  work.  She  went  to  it  and  lifted 
it  up.  It  was  a  spiny,  red-brown,  sprawling  thing  just 
beginning  to  clothe  itself  with  leaves.  It  had  been 
breast-high  when  she  had  picked  the  fruit  from  it,  and 
Claude  had  stood  over  there,  in  that  patch  of  common 
brakes  which  then  rose  above  his  knees,  but  was  now  a 
bed  of  delicate,  elongated  sprays  leaning  backward  with 
incomparable  grace.  She  found  the  heart  to  sing^-her 
voice,  which  ustd  to  be  strong  enough,  yielding  her  but 
the  ghost  of  song,  as  the  notes  of  an  old  spinnet  give 
back  the  ghost  of  music  long  ago  dead: 

"Oh,  mirk,  mirk  is  the  midnight  hour, 
And  loud  the  tempest's  roar; 
A  waeful  wanderer  seeks  thy  tower. 
Lord  Gregory  ope  thy  door." 

_  She  could  not  remember  having  so  much  as  hummed  this 
air  since  the  day  Claude  had  interrupted  it ;  but  she  went 
on,  unfalteringly,  to  the  lines  at  which  he  had  broken  in: 

"At  least  be  pity  to  me  shown. 
If  love  it  may  na'  be — " 

She  didn't  falter  even  here;  she  only  allowed  her  voice 
to  trail  away  in  the  awed  pianissimo  into  which  he  had 
frightened  her.  She  stopped  then  and  went  through  the 
conversation  that  ensued  on  the  memorable  day,  and  of 
which  the  very  words  were  imprinted  on  her  heart: 
"Isn't  it  Rosie?  I'm  Claude."  She  hadn't  smiled  on  that 
occasion,  but  she  smiled  to  herself  now— a  ghost  of  a  smile 
to  match  her  ghost  of  a  voice — ^because  his  tone  had  been 
so  sweet.  She  had  never  heard  anything  like  it  before — 
and  since,  only  in  his  moments  of  endearment. 

But  she  went  home  at  last.    She  went  home  because  the 
May  afternoon  grew  chilly,  and  in  the  gathering  of  shadows 
344 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE 


beneath  the  oaks  there 


was 


seme  or  a  sodding,  she  was 


ANGELS 

eery.    Expectine  a 
surpnsedtofindboihZh.^ 


something 


and  mother  cahn."  They  ^Z^X^,,'"  °°5  '^^  &ther 
«»cennng  her.  d^^g  ^  Z^^IZ"^^  ^ews 

whims.    When  she  refiidt2t^v^"!f?'^"'8«''«^ 
protest,  and  only  once  A/nW^  Mfy  made  littie  or  no 
cross  the  passage  to^  fr^n  ^t  '"!.''*  ^'^  ^"  mother 
Onthefod'd^y^^'^^y-hyshedidn'tgotober 
ment  of  her  right  toXTto  w^T^^^^r^r'^^" 
to  absent  herself.    Rosie  waTo^^   T    °^  ^*  ^'^^om 
t^en  place.    AntomT^t^^'^^  ^J^ ^'^^  ^^ 
^^sit.  and  her  parents  ^  Z^T  ^°  ^^  °'  Claude's 
Rosie  was  inSS     „f7*«'  a  hopeless  love.afiair. 
btisiness;   she  W^eitW    '°T^^f^  were  her  own 
any  one.'   So^^ls  her^g^*^  J-  ^"^ 
«»ne  and  go.  to  nibbiriKlh^?^'**  ^^  "^^^  ^ 
^  when  spoken  to.  L^^'^t^  '^'^  '^^  "°*  *° 

srth^c;^r?aLSM^F^*^^^ 

was  as  &«e  as  wind^  W^d^     ^^""^ '^°°«-    She 
Saturday,  and  Sunday      ^^'^V-  Thursday.  Prfday, 

tic^L^'^d'^^S  r^"f .  *°  «ve  in  the  exulta- 
The  wo.^  had  iapSS  to  h"Sf  ^  /^^  '"^  «'°-- 
so,  in  a  manner  of  s^n^  ^  ^*  "^^  **PP«>.  and 

shehadbeguntoSia^le^'S^'J^f^"'^  ^"- 
and  foreboding  as  to  X,r     u        ^^  ^"^^  misgiving 

forth.  nTZv  ^d  ^.Itu^  ^y  would  bring 
could  hurt  h™^  "^^  *°^  ^^ytbing  now  that 

In  thinking  of  ClaudT  .nfi-  «*?™»e  *«  activity, 
jneetings  4th  hL  "hL^liTl'^??'  '^  "^ 
longing,  of  passion,  of  d^^"^^*"  Hke  pangs,  of 
^t„^y^  ,,,^^  %S^tS:S  Sg£ 


i 


'  'i   '*'' 

ii 

J 

(ft' 


i  I 

1 11 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

her.  If  they  were  premonitions  of  a  stote  of  anguish- 
why,  there  had  been  so  mudi  anguish  in  her  ejrisode  with 
Claude  that  there  couldn't  be  much  more  now.  If  any- 
thing,  she  welcomed  it.  It  would  be  more  as  if  he  was 
back  with  her.  The  void  was  peaceful.  But  the  void 
filled  with  suffering  on  his  account  would  be  better  still. 
Anything!— anything  but  to  be  forced  to  go  back! 

But  on  Monday  it  was  the  urgency  of  going  back  that 
confronted  her.  She  had  come  down  in  the  morning  to 
find  her  breakfast  laid  in  just  the  way  she  liked  it— tea, 
a  soft-boiled  egg,  buttered  toast,  and,  as  a  special  tempta- 
tion to  a  capricious  appetite,  a  dab  of  marmalade.  She 
sat  down  to  the  table  unwillingly,  sipping  at  the  tea  ar.d 
nibbling  at  the  toast,  but  leaving  the  egg  and  the  mar- 
malade untouched.  In  her  m'other's  bustling  to  and  fro 
she  felt  the  long-delayed  protest  in  the  atmosphere.  It 
came  while  her  mother  was  crossing  the  room  to  replace 
some  dishes  on  the  dresser. 

"Now,  my  girl,  buck  up.  Just  eat  your  breakfast  and 
set  to  work  and  stop  yoi-r  foolish  fancies.  If  you  don't 
look  out  you'll  get  yourself  where  I  was,  and  I  guess  it  '11 
take  more  than  Dr.  Hilary  to  pull  you  out."  She  added, 
as  she  returned  to  the  kitchen:  "  Vour  father  told  me  to 
tell  you  to  get  busy  on  the  cucumbers.  There's  a  lot  to 
be  picked.  He's  been  spannin'  them  and  finds  them 
ready." 

Rosie  made  use  of  her  privilege  of  not  answering.  When 
she  had  eaten  all  she  could  she  took  a  basket  and  made  Ler 
way  toward  the  cucumber-house  she  had  not  entered  since 
she  had  left  it  with  the  words,  "I've  quit."  It  was 
like  going  to  the  scaffold  to  drag  her  feet  across  the  yard; 
It  was  like  mounting  it  to  lift  the  latch  of  the  paintless 
door  and  fed  the  stifling,  pollen-laden  air  in  her  face. 
Nevertheless,  habit  took  her  in.  Habit  sent  her  eyes 
searching  among  the  lowest  stretches  of  the  vines,  where 
the  cool,  green  things  were  hanging.  HaWt  caused  her 
to  stoop  and  span  them  with  her  rough  little  hand.  When 
346 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

c«ne  witWa  an  feSlfdoiljL""*  "^^  ""^  '"='  °^ 

hundreds  in  her  tmp-  ShT  ?  j  •  ?^*-  ^''^  ^^  P"cked 
couldn't  l4i„  a^"'  ^th^.'^w^  *°"^'^^-  She 
the  yoke  ofa,e  S  wcS  te^^,,  °°*  ?"  ^^"'««' 
She  couldn't  b^it"T^^T^^^"''^°^'^"'°^- 
wordsonhe;h^sI^BslipL^tJ.r>"  ^"'^  ">«* 
end  of  the  hoth^Ld  sS  tol^  ^^^  ''?*  **  "^«  ^'«' 
Rock.  ^^  *^^^  ^^  refuge  on  Duck 

words  she  would^Sif^i«^°^^^fi^  T"'-*  '^°'  '^d 
them.  She  wouldTiJ  S  of  V  ^^  c'T'*  *°  ^^^ 
his  father  and  mot^l  ^T  m^'  .^''^  ''"^^  ^n^ 
would  discover^eriri  ^l  T^'^  ^^^^  *°  ^hor!    She 

^d  '^backrShtTLI'cSS.r  k?  ?h?  ^  ,!? 

m  him,  she  SaI^IiTI,'^  ^'    "  *«  «»Jdn't 
hen;elfshewJdS^,f„„'^^^    Perhaps  if  she  killed 

She  thought  abTt  tW     A^    V-  ^^^  "^  ^^ 
most  practical     tC\X:  •       f  ^'  '*  ^'^  the  thing 

to  the  dust  wi^o?t  ^^g  S:.  "Sp  t5ri?iT^ 
not  wanted  him  to  suff«"  t^iTZT  ^P  ^c  *o-day  she  had 
herself,  he  wZil^  ' ^1^ ,'^^  ^•^-  "  ^«  ^^^J 
ever  many  sa^SXi  »^  T" '™«  '^^  "^^J-  °^  how- 
™»ny  servants  the  woman  he  manied  would  be  able 
247 


If 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

to   .eep,  his  life  would  be  poisoned  by  the  memory  erf 
what  he  had  done  to  her. 

Her  imagination  reveled  in  the  scenes  it  was  now  Me 
to  depict.  Leaning  back  with  her  head  resting  againsv  the 
trunk  of  the  old  oak,  she  closed  her  eyes  and  viewed  the 
dramatic  procession  of  events  that  might  follow  on  that 
morning  and  haunt  Claude  Masterman  tc  his  grave. 
She  saw  herself  leaping  from  the  rock;  she  saw  her  body 
washed  ashore,  her  head  and  hands  hanging  limp,  her 
long,  wet  hair  streaming;  she  saw  her  parents  mourning, 
and  Thor  remorseful,  and  Claude  absolutely  stricken. 
Her  efforts  rested  there.  Everything  was  subordinate 
to  the  one  great  fact  that  by  doing  this  she  could  make  the 
sword  go  through  his  heart,  i  She  went  to  the  edge  of  the 
diff  and  peered  over.  Though  it  was  a  sheer  fifty  feet,  it 
didn't  seem  so  very  far  down.  The  water  was  blue  and 
lapping  and  inviting.    It  looked  as  if  it  would  be  easy. 

She  returned  to  her  seat.  She  knew  she  was  only  play- 
ing. It  relieved  the  tumult  within  her  to  pretend  that 
she  could  do  as  desperately  as  she  felt.  It  quieted  her. 
Once  she  saw  that  she  had  it  in  her  power  to  make  Claude 
unhappy,  something  in  her  spirit  was  appeased. 

She  began  the  little  comedy  all  over  again,  from  the 
mmute  when  she  started  forth  from  home  on  the  mo- 
mentous day  to  fill  her  pan  with  raspberries.  She  traced 
her  steps  down  the  hill  and  up  through  the  glades  of  the 
bluff  wherever  the  ripe  raspberries  were  hanging.  She 
<ame  to  the  minute  when  her  stage  directions  called  for 
"Lord  Gregory,"  and  she  sang  it  with  the  same  thin, 
silvery  piping  which  was  all  she  could  contribute  now  to 
the  demand  of  drama.  It  was  both  an  annoyance  and  a 
surprise  to  hear  a  footfall  and  the  swish  of  lobes  and  to 
turn  and  see  Lois  Willoughby. 

Beyond  the  fact  that  she  couldn't  help  it,  she  didn't 

know  why  she  became  at  once  so  tadtum  and  repellent. 

"Oh,  she'll  come  again,"  she  said  in  self-excuse,  and  with 

vague  ideas  of  atonement,  after  Lois  had  gone  away. 

!»48 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 


Brides,  the  things  that  Lois  had 


wid  in  the 


soKdtude,  sympathy, 

l^^l  ^  it  was  from  obscure  motives'  of  comi;^' 
aon,  smce  thw  woman,  too.  had  missed  what  wj^„ 

ae  would  have  returned  to  her  dream  had  her  dream 
returned  to  her;  but  Um  had  broken  the  speU.  R^ 
could  no  longer  get  the  ecstasies  of  re^aSt  R^ 
enactmentiteelf  became  a  fooUsh  thing,  the  SS^f  wS; 
had  once  be«  fruit.  It  was  a  new  phL  of  loss  Ev^l 
thmg  went  but  her  misery  and  h^  desire  to  strikTIr 
^ude-that  and  the  sense  that  whatever  she  did^^d  nl 
matter  how  dt^ve  she  made  hereelf ,  she  would  haveto  to 
bade  to  the  old  life  at  last.  She  struggled  ae^stth^ 
conviction,  but  it  settled  on  her  likermkt  fhTl^ 
T^J:^  ''''  raspberry-bine,  she  sang^Ld  Gr^*^ 
she  peered  over  the  brink  of  the  toy  predpice-to^e 

d^  as  she  dared,  whipping  and  lashing  and  taunting  he? 

^tXo^^^*^''^'^°^*^«^*-  NothinTimI 
tte  W^"iT^*  ™88«ti«»  tl«t  even  if  she  feH 
the  boat  whidi  had  appeared  on  the  lake,  and  from  whiS 
two  men  were  fehing.  would  rescue  her.    The^^lS 

3ird;;r  "^ "  ^^^ '-'  ^^^  ^  «"^st 

he^^°^.?J?,.*°°''  P°^°^  of  her.  The  thing  for 
her  to  do^it  toM  her  crudly.  was  to  go  back  and  pick  the 
^^^w^^  "^^  ^^  '°^d  be  somrotE^ 
In  ttemarke^gardea  business  jobs  were  endless,  es^y 
msprmg^    She  could  set  about  them  with  a  betto^b^ 

wul&it  refuse  now  to  renew  the  lease.  He  wouldn't  have 
the  face  to  refuse  it-so  common  sense  expressed  its^- 
whenhissonhaddonehersudiawrong.  kSi^ 
pother  victory,  her  suffering  would  ft  least  WsS 

It  was  an  argument  of  which  she  couldn't  but  fed  the 

17  141) 


\  )<l 


.':     n 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

wdght.  There  would  be  three  more  yean  of  ju«t  manag- 
ing to  Bve-H;hree  more  years  of  sowing  and  planting  and 
watering  and  watching,  at  the  end  of  which  they  would 
not  quite  have  starved,  while  Matt  would  have  had  a  hole 
in  which  to  hide  himself  on  coming  out  of  jail.  Decidedly 
it  was  an  argument  She  had  aJready  shown  her  willing- 
ness to  sell  herself;  and  this  would  apparently  pnjve  to  be 
her  price. 

Wearily,  when  noon  had  passed  and  afteraoon  set  in, 
she  got  herself  to  her  feet.  Wearily  she  b^an  to  descend 
the  hill.  She  would  go  back  again  to  the  cucumbers. 
She  would  take  up  again  the  burden  she  had  thrxjwn  down. 
She  would  bring  her  wild  heart  into  harness  and  tame  it  to 
hopelessness.  Common  sen^  could  suggest  nothing  else. 
She  went  now  by  the  path,  because  it  was  tortuous  and 
less  direct  than  the  bee-line  over  fern.  She  paused  at 
every  excuse— now  to  watch  a  robin  hopping,  now  to  look 
at  a  pink  lady's-sUpper  abloom  in  a  bed  of  spleenwort, 
now  for  no  reason  at  all.  Each  step  cost  her  a  separate 
act  of  renunciation;  each  act  of  renunciation  was  harder 
than  the  other.  But  successive  steps  and  successive  acts 
brought  her  down  the  hill  at  last. 
"I  can't.    I  can't." 

She  dragged  herself  a  few  paces  farther  still. 
"Ican'tl    I  can't!" 

She  was  in  sight  of  the  boulevard,  where  a  gang  of  Finns 
were  working,  and  beyond  which  lay  the  ragg«l,  uncul- 
tivated outskirts  of  her  father's  land.  Up  through  a 
tangle  of  nettles  and  yarrow  she  could  see  the  zigzag 
path  which  had  been  the  rainbow  bridge  of  her  happiness. 
She  came  to  a  dead  stop,  the  back  of  her  hand  pressed 
against  her  mouth  fearfully.  "  If  I  go  up  therr  "  she  said 
to  herself,  "  I  shall  never  come  down  again."  She  meant 
tiiat  she  would  never  come  down  again  in  the  same  spirit. 
That  spirit  would  be  captured  and  slain.  She  herself  would 
be  captured  and  slain.  Nothing  would  live  of  her  but  a 
body  to  drudge  in  the  hothouse  to  earn  a  few  cents  a  day. 
350 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

ai^denly,  without  forming  a  retolutioii  or  directinK 
•a  intention  she  turned  and  sped  up  the  hill.  At  first 
^e  on^y  walked  rapidly;  but  the  waUc  broke  into  a  SS 

^^.T.""^  *  "^  'drains  along  through  tto 
trees  hke  that  of  a  roused  partridge  6"  •*« 

&^li^  "^^^^^  ^"^  *'^*  *•  ^"  «««^8  from- 
Whmg  withm  her,  a  power  of  guardedness  ot  that 

mT^^T  ^,r**^'  "PP"  '^*''  '"'J  •»^«'  down. 
S^    L^.^*  "^^  ■^P°°<1 1°  ""  the  foiw  Swt  iew 

fciiZ^A  ''^  the  words  with  which  she  met  her  own 
M^  to  resist.  If  her  confused  thought  could  have 
beoomeetplanatory  it  would  have  said:    "I  must  eet 

i:^  S.^^e"!"  ''"%'"'^'  ^  "^^  ««*-^  *« 

hope,  from  the  love.  I  must  do  something  that  will 
^  Claude  suffer:  I  must  frighten  him;  I  must  woZ 
^;  I  must  strike  at  the  girl  who  has  won  him  away 
^_her  ten  or  twelve  servants.    And  there's  no  way  but 

Even  so  the  way  was  obscure  to  her.  She  was  taking  it 
mthout  seemg  whither  it  was  to  lead.  If  one  impidse 
^ed  her  to  stop,  another  whipped  her  onward     "I 

^fSU. ""  *  ^''  "^  '^'^  °"*'  -''-  -^« 

For  flight  gave  impetus  to  itself.    It  was  like  release- 

Lr't!^",!"^  T^^  ^'*"-    ^''''  v'as  as  a  birf  whose  S 
have  been  bound,  and  who  has  worked  them  free  agaii 
There  was  a  frenzy  in  sheer  speed. 
The  path  was  steep,  but  she  was  hardly  aware  of  so 

w'l^J^'*^f  '*•  ^^  ^^^  ^<1  ^e^  within 
IZ  ^^^  Z  ^'^^-  ^*  *=^^y  l«ew  that  she  was 
running  br^thl^y.  that  she  panted,  that  once  or  t^ 
she  sttmibled  and  feU.  Something  was  beckoning  to  h« 
fr^  the  great,  safe,  empty  void-something  that  waa 
nothmg.  unless  it  was  peace  and  sleep-something  that 
'SI 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

had  its  abode  in  the  free  tpmoet  of  the  wind  and  the  blue 
cayenu  of  the  sky  and  the  kindly  lapping  water— some- 
thing infinite  and  eternal  and  restful,  in  whose  embrace 
she  was  due. 

At  the  edge  of  the  wood  she  had  a  last  terrifying  moment. 
The  raspberry-bine  was  there,  and  the  great  oak  with  the 
seat  around  it,  and  the  carpet  of  dnquefoil  and  wild 
strawberry.  She  gave  them  a  quick,  frightened  look,  like 
an  appeal  to  impede  her.  If  she  was  to  stop  she  must 
stop  now.  "  But  I  can't  stop,"  she  seemed  to  fling  to  them, 
over  her  shoulder,  as  she  kept  on  to  whet*,  beyond  the 
highest  tip  of  greensward,  the  blue  level  of  the  lake 
appeared. 

The  boat  with  the  two  fishermen  was  neai«r  the  shoi« 
than  when  she  had  observed  it  last.  "They'll  save  me! 
Oh,  they'U  save  me!"  she  had  time  to  whisper  to  herself, 
at  the  supreme  moment  when  she  left  everything  behind. 

There  followed  a  space  which  in  Rosie's  consciousness 
was  long.  She  felt  that  she  was  leaping,  flying,  out  into 
the  welcoming  void,  and  that  the  promise  of  rest  and 
peace  had  not  deceived  her. 

But  it  was  in  the  shock  of  falling  that  sanity  returned; 
and  all  that  the  tense  little  creature  had  been,  and  tried' 
to  be,  and  couldn't  be,  and  longed  to  be,  and  feared  to  be, 
and  failed  to  be  broke  into  a  cry  at  which  the  fishermen 
dropped  their  rods. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

T"m;?^''  you  mind  if  I  went  away  for  .  ;;ttb 

wii'<l^t;;*''^^^«'"»?h-n-table.  but  her  ey, 
non-comnu^  at&S,f^r^r°^  t°  ""^tain  Z 
couldn't  meet  Us  g^  ^  ^  "^^  "P  «  breakfast,  she 

yoJiaT"''''^'"^''^*-^''^^-    "Whyshould 

noiiiSg'^e  "L^-T^b^^  *  "^S^ty  »  ?«" 
«thet— upset."  ^ve  been  to  see  Rosie.    She's 

Js^Ss^t'^^'S'Zj  i-.'^^he  betrayed  his  self. 
Iconic  forni  of  spee^  iT^  *,„  ,f "  ^^^  ^  *«  most 
Penetnition.        '^^  "  °^*  *<> '<«^e  no  opening  to  her 

vc.£%r?^r  ^,^;ht2s;*hrT.  ^'^  ^^- 

so  long  a»—"  ""satinterest  her.    But  anywhere, 

tain     ItwaswiSX^arhTt^^'^.!,*"-- 
was  leaving  the  room  •  ^  **  '^  t^^*  she  said,  as  he 

«>^2-?„;'!SX'^jf-^*--    ^^-y*ewon-t 


Between  three  and  fom-  that  afternoon  she 
aS3 


il-   : 


entered  her 


i 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

taiAttd'f  office  hurriedly.  It  wm  Mn.  DMriove  wbo 
wcBlvadher.  "Do  you  know  whew  Dr.  MMtemam  i«f 
IJo  you  know  where  he  expected  to  call  thii  afternoon?" 

Brightetone  coneulted  a  card  hanj^  on  the  wall 
He  wa«  to  'ave  aeen  Mrs.  Gibbe,  'm— Number  lo  s^iwin 
Btreet— some  time  through  the  day." 

Low  made  no  aecret  at  her  agitation.  "Have  they  a 
telephone?  ' 

"S*'  '^' '™'  '"*y-    ^^y  •  P««"  cl«nroman." 

Was  he  going  anywhere  at  aU  whew  they  cokU  have  a 
tdephone?" 

Mw.  Deailove  having  mentioned  the  poMibiUtiee,  Loie 
rang  up  houw  after  house.  She  left  the  lame  meiMge 
ewywhere:  Thor  wae  to  be  asked  to  come  djieetiy  to  hi» 
office,  where  she  was  awaiting  him.  It  was  after  four  when 
be  appeared. 

She  met  him  in  the  Uttie  entry  and,  taking  Wm  by  the 
arm,  drew  him  into  the  waiting-room.  "Comein,  Thor 
dear,  come  in."  She  knew  by  his  eyee  tiiat  he  suspected 
•omethingolwhatshehadtoteU.  <»p««« 

"Caught  me  at  the  Longyears'."  he  tried  to  say  in  a 
mtmal  voice,  but  he  could  hardly  fbree  the  words  liyond 

"It's  Roeie,  Thor,"  she  said,  instantiy.    "She's  all 

He  dropped  into  a  chair,  supporting  himself  on  the 
round  table  strewn  with  illustrated  papen  and  magacines 
for  the  entertainment  of  waiting  patients.  His  lips 
inovBd,  but  no  sound  passed  them.  Long,  daric  shadom 
•treaked  the  paUor  of  his  face.  ""wows 

She  Mt  down  beside  him.  covering  his  hands  with  her 
own.  She  saU  right,  Thor  dear...  now...  and  I  don't 
ttmkshellbeany  the  worseforitintheend. . . .  She  may 

be  the  better.  ...  We  can't  tdl  yet But-but  you 

naven  t  heard  it  in  the  village,  have  you?" 

He  shook  his  head,  perhaps  because  he  was  dazed,  pep. 
haps  because  he  didn't  trust  hwntrif  to  gi— ir 
*S4 


^HE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

no  «Maa  for  .  A^:^  Tor*  '^.- ' '  "^^ 

onJy . . .  jurt  what  I  w«  ^d  rf!lv ;  i* '  '«'J^t'« 

lunch     .  .  Shi^-.h— d,"^^,.*^-*'»t  I  Voke  of  .t 
HefoundituBngthtotoe^     •'«.   ^.^ 

h«.df  into  the  ^r^*      B^~uT*y„  "She  threw 

J«m  Breea  and  RobWe  Wiiw  *  *'■  ""  "K^t 

fijWng. ...  They  «w  her  ^^^  '^^  «  •  »^t- 
SLT  *TJ^«  «econd"to?^  '"L^B*"'  ^  «- 
•««  l>«r  *ad  brought  her  w  iiT       °"*°  ^^"^ 

•aota  very  long  .  JTfr!^'  W  ^^  ''«"  t  uncon- 
bj-at  old  M^.  Vukes^1i°^*?^y  Dr.  HiU  waa  doSe 
fhe'.  home  now  ZJl  l^f^f^  !««....  ^ 
j;«t  M  they  were  briariaX^!!!^-  '  '  "  ^  '^^ 
b«athing  then.  .  .  rweat  J?^'  •  '  •  She  wat 
*'°^-  •  •  •  I  told  M„  ?^  *"  '^«*  them  to  the 
«w  them  put  hTto^"^"^  •si,eri,*f,'/«y-  •  •  ^ 

a«de -gain  iTlril  te,^  "^  *^*  ^  1  "ver  «: 

of  command.    "You  m^„'..  .T'    ^  '^'  «'n  a  tone 
mustn't  make  thinw  w^h    ^  '*  ^^  «»»•    T^ 

«ougha.it^s."^^"^fcJ7,,"^  ^«y'"bS 

for  some  of  u*-that%ve  mu^f^  at  least  so  hard  fo,^ 
n^e  it  possible  totlTth^.  ^  "^"y*^  we  can  to 

<=H«1  her  own  «?S  S^  T^  ^ '«»<J«-  Shf 
«t  looking  at  his  st^g  & 'liTV  ?«*  »'  *« 
*»rk  hair  that  feU  over  t£  W.!f ^  *u****  '^'^^  "^ 
dug  into  his  forehead  She  M?^*"!*  •'''^  «»  nails 
She  Mt  a  great  pity  far  him;  b«t 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

a  pity  that  permitted  her  to  sit  there,  watchful,  detached, 
not  as  If  It  was  Thoi--but  some  one  else. 

There  would  be  an  end  now  to  silences  and  conceal- 
ments. She  saw  that  already.  He  was  makJng  no 
further  attempt  to  keep  her  in  the  dark.  In  t).e  shock 
of  the  moment  aU  the  barricades  he  bad  built  around  his 
secret  hfe  had  faUen  like  the  walls  of  Jericho.  She  had 
nothmg  to  do  but  walk  upward  and  inward  and  take 
possession.  AU  was  open.  There  was  neither  shrine  nor 
sanctuary  any  longer.  It  was  no  privilege  to  be  admitted 
thus;  anybody  would  have  been  admitted  who  sat  beside 
him  as  she  was  sitting  now. 

But  in  the  end  the  paroxysm  passed  and  his  hands  came 
down.  I 

"I  know  it's  hard  for  you,  Thoi— "  The  eyes  he 
turned  on  her  were  full  of  such  unspeakable  things  that 
she  stopped.  She  was  obliged  to  wait  till  he  looked  away 
^am  brfore  she  could  go  on.  "I  know  it's  hard  for  you 
Thor.  Itshardfor-forusall.  But  my  point  is  that 
bittemess  or  violence  will  only  make  it  worse.  You  must 
remember-I  feel  that  I  must  remind  you  of  it— that 
you  re  not  the— not  the  only  sufferer." 

He  bowed  his  head  into  his  hands  again,  but  without 
the  mad  anguish  of  a  few  minutes  earlier. 

"Where  so  much  is  intolerable,"  she  pureued,  "what 
we  have  to  d<>-each  one  of  us— is  to  see  how  tolerable  we 
can  make  thmgs  for  every  one  else." 

He  raised  his  head  fo.-  one  quick,  reproachful  glance. 
Do  you  mean  tolerable  foi^for  Claude?" 

ish^'"^  ^°  "*°°  ^"  ^'*"''®"    ^'  ^'°'*  ^''^  *°  P^- 
^He  gave  her  another  look.    "Then  what  have  we  got  to 

"Nothing  that  isn't  kind-and  well  thought  out  before- 
hand. That  s  really  the  importar.t  thing.  When  one 
^  t  move  without  hurting  some  one,  isn't  it  better  not 
to  move  at  all  ?" 

356 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

It  was  the  old  doctrine  of  tarrvine  the  r.nrH'.  i  ■ 
«M  which  his  instincts  w^^Vrev^'^T 
Jgnab<»  was  such  that  he  could  p^^^^  ^^^ 

J^lJS!.'^"-'*°-y«-twesho„ldLhimZ.d^ 

She  laid  her  hand  on  his  arm     "Oh    Tt.^,  -»„     -. 

He  shook  his  head  blanklv     "T  j™>4.       j 
What  good  would  tCdo?^^"  ^°^  *  -ffldetstand. 

it  ^'t'fry;^'"^"'*'^'  "I  ^  h-ve  to  let  you  think 
she^l^SSd^^;  "^Str^m^rTf ' 
=.-h.1S^-.5Lt^;ilB^^ 

understood  that  before—"  If  we  d  only 

"Youmean,  if  Ihad." 

and  lem^  "  qi,T^i  ,  *^  "^*  them-and  suffei- 
anaieam  She  bent  doser  to  his  ear.  "And  if- -.^ 
we  must  do,  Thor  dear,  you  and  T     W»?2    ^    ^* 

j^e  brushed  her  lips  hghtly  ac««s  his  hair  and  left 
3S7 


- 


3    f 

ilii. 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

Othe  team-lme.  and  on  into  the  beginnine  of  Comifr^ 
Street,  she  was  obKrad  tn  V«»r.  «»,«„*:  iT^*  »-ounty 
"Nothina  twTv.r^"'***^^  her  own  words— 
J,i!^n^^*  isnt  kind  and  weU  thoiight  out  before- 
hand.      Havmg  counseled  him  against  bitt^e^r^ 

S^^d'^vT  "^^  ,  Bitterness  was  beyond  s.^^^ 
MOB.  and  violence  would  have  been  so  easv!  "W^ 
^  ^be/orehandr  she  emphasized  '^tevS^'? 
^must  keep  to  that.  If  /  don't.  God  knav^Twe 
to  puwuanoe  of  this  principle  she  turned  in  at  her 
tet^ed^'^P^*^-  ^f^'JMrs.Mastem^mu^J^ 
tifJf^      .^^^  '^  ^  '^°^d  touch  them  so  clcX 

up  the  steps.     "Saw  you  coming,"  he  emIain«H     "  t    * 
^I'Z.^    Er^sbeen^^^^tetostS 

thJ.^°^J'^\.^'°^-    I've  been  th««.    I  was 
ttere  when  tl,ey  brought  her  ashore.    It  may  hu/e  b^ 

You  wiU  when  you  know.    Ena,"  he  called  im  f»,« 
a  ^^ey  had  ent««,  the  hall^^'Sf  ^"^h^^ 

wiSSo^rruSed""^  .?rmv^  r "^•^*- 

^^^iytlusisr    ItrSfoften^LTer^akntt! 

If  tt  s  about  Claude  and  Rosie  Fav  "  T^^  =oJJ      i, 
they  had  got  seated.  "I  know^^aSSi.  '^or^'toid'S! 

3C8 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE  ANGELS 

He  told  me  yesterday,  because— weU,  because  I'd  been 
t»lmg  an  interest  in  Rosie  for  some  months  past,  and 
wirn  I  w«mt  to  see  her  yesterday  afternoon  old  Mr.  Pay 
wouHnt  let  me.  He  said  there'd  been  trouble-^ 
•omethmg--between  Claude  and  Rosie—" 
"l^^:^f^  ^^  romantic,  poor  boy."  Ena  interrupted, 
and  so  loyal.  You'd  hardly  beUeve.  He's  been  SlS 
m  completely.  He  did  want  to  marry  her.  That's  true 
There  s  no  use  denying  it.    He  told  his  father  and  he  told 

Sn,n^\^7''°?;'^-    We've  been  .0  worried.    But 
he  must  have  found  her  <mt—simply  found  her  out" 

Leas  weighed  the  wisdom  of  asking  questions  or  of 
learning  more  than  Thor  chose  to  tell  her,  but  in  the  end  it 
sewied  reasonable  to  ask,  "Found  her  out— how?" 

Ena  threw  up  her  pretty  hands.  "Oh,  well,  with  a  girl 
of  that  sort  what  could  you  expect?  Claude's  been  cwn- 
getely  taken  m-or  he  was.  He's  so  innocent,  poor  boy. 
He  woiddn  t  beheve-not  even  when  1  told  him.  I  tried 
to  stand  by  him-I  really  did.  Didn't  I.  Archie?  When 
hcMid  he  TOnted  to  marry  her  I  said,  said  I.  'If  she's  a 
good  ^1.  Claude,  and  loves  yon.  I'll  accept  her.'  I 
really  did,  Lois-and  you  can  imagine  what  it  cost  me. 
But  I  CCTild  see  at  once.  Any  one  who  wasn't  infatuated 
as  Claude  was  would  have  seen  at  a  glance.  The  eirl 
must  be— weU.  something  awful." 

Lois  spoke  warmly.     "  Oh.  I  don't  think  that " 
My  dear  Lois,  I  know.    What's  more.  Thor  knows, 
too.    And  I  must  say  I  can't  help  blaming  Thor.    He's 
backed  CUude  up-and  backed  him  up  when  aU  the  while 
he  s  known  what  she  was. " 

Las  fdt  obUged  to  speak.  "  I  don't  think  he's  known 
anythmg— anything  to  her  discredit." 

"Oh.  but  he  has.  I  assure  you  he  has.  And  what 
amazes  me  about  Thor-simply  amazes  me-is  that  he 
shCTilAit  see  It  m  the  right  light.  Archie  did,  as  soon  as  I 
told  him.  Didn't  you,  Archie?  And  I  didn't  teU  him  " 
Ena  ran  on,  excitedly.  "tiU  I  saw  what  trouble  de^ 
»S9 


^4    . 


THE   SIDE  OF   THE  ANGELS 

father,  but  not  befo™.    ?ou  «Sd  S^^  S,^,  £ 
«mcaddyou?-his  own  father.    And  wh«^',S^ 
Andbe-why.,t  was  so  plain  thatachildcould^te^dS 
The  question,  "What  was  olain?"  /«,.ij    -^  i. 

^^iri'^-with^-^Ts'Sw^^^^^ 
:^tfto-h^so£^--^--""-r?.^ 

knowhowtoteS^e^tt^,""*^-    ^""'^  l^"' ^hat  never 

her  right  to  be1^oJ?'^lS^^^'«  defense  of 
I  know  he  did     AnHIT^/^  w        1^  beheved  jt,  too. 

in  his  senses  would  settle  ™^»  •  .      ^^^  °°  ^^ 

there'd  beS  I^e^-^^T^  o°  a  prl  like  that  unless 

of  the  world  as  if  he  wks  t^  yea^^<j     S,  rLtf  '^°^* 
took  him  in  completely"  He  really  is.    She 

p^rorrSiVchS--^ -- --  ^.<^ 

himself  already  MTtermAn^  •  ^^''f ''^P*™»"«d 

^^wife  a<^m^pS^tnrd1."  ^A^tSL^S 
^d  good-by  and  was  descending  t^  stS  JS^^ 

cnedoutmatonethatwaslikeacLifesd^  ^°* 

36o 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

spans  for  S^nl^-f  ^  .^  ^""^  ^^  attenti.^to 
heard  the  tZi^'t .Zt^^j\,'Z:-   k"^^« 

knows  it.'-'        '  ''^  ^«^  h«^  motha-and  she  says  she 

bufws^^^,^"^  "!^«  some  expression  of  ^ef . 
nxJmfoTMlyX^^"?,  T-  I",  her  heart  there  wa^ 
shewassaStoh^^°°-      ^°"«y'    Money!" 

place,  was  meditating  moodily     °^  *°  ^^e  empty  fire- 

<^J^iSJSS:tn::Zfi^  ^  «-*  ^in  was 

"^^  l^o^^o::?^  '^  '^  ^-^^  P--e.y. 
J^  Wed  to  speak  with  conviction.     "Oh  y«;  of-^ 

ch^ta^Sytterrl^te'Z^t^  ^"  ''^ 
reach  Claude.     That  w^h^T'  sensabon  would 

Dare  say  it  was  a  ni^^  her  game -quite  evidently. 

have  -em  'longside."  ^        ^'  **  ^^  «*<«,  to 

'•But  if  Claude  should  hear  of  it— " 

Must  see  that  he  dnom'f     tit-  • 

■^ontojapan^^tohe'^rj?^?  ^  ^"-'^ght  to 

"hk^-^,^^^^^"™"*-    I^  him  go  to 

-  likes-round  the  world.    Anything  to  keep 


India, 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

him  away— «iid  you  and  I,"  he  added,  "had  better  hoek  it 
till  the  whole  th^g  blows  over." 

She  looked  distressed.'   "Hook  it,  Archie?" 

"Caoee  the  house  up  and  go  abroad.  Haven't  been 
abroad  for  three  years  now.  Little  motor  trip  throu^ 
England— «nd  back  toward  the  end  of  the  summer. 
F«jrtunately  I've  sold  that  confounded  property.  Good 
price,  too.  Hobson,  of  Hobeon  &  Davies.  Ooing  to 
build  for  residence.  Takes  it  from  the  expiration  of  the 
lease,  which  is  up  in  July.  Hell  clear  out  the  whole  gang 
then,  so  that  by  the  time  we  come  back  they'll  be  gone. 
What  do  you  think  ?  Might  do  Devonshire  and  Cornwall 
— «lways  wanted  to  take  that  trip— with  a  few  weeks  in 
Paris  before  we  come  home.'" 

The  suggestion  of  going  abroad  came  as  such  a  pleasing 
surprise  that  Mrs.  Masterman  slipped  into  a  chair  to  turn 
it  over  in  her  mind.  "Then  Claude  couldn't  come  back, 
could  he?"  expressed  the  first  of  the  advantages  she  fore- 
saw.   "He'd  have  nowhere  to  go." 

"Oh,  he'll  not  be  in  a  hurry  to  do  that,"  Archie  said, 
confidently. 

"And  I  do  want  some  things,"  she  mused  further.  "I 
had  nothing  to  wear  for  the  Darlings'  ball— nothing— and 
you  know  how  long  I've  worn  the  dinner-drtsses  I  have. 
I  really  couldn't  put  on  the  green  again. "  She  was  silent 
for  some  minutes,  when  another  of  those  queer  little  cries 
escaped  her  such  as  had  broken  from  her  lips  when  she 
stood  at  the  door  with  Lois:  "But,  oh,  Archie,  I  want  to 
do  what's  right!— what's  right,  Archie!" 

He  looked  at  her  from  under  his  brows  as  his  head  again 
drooped  moodily.    "'WhcLt's—uMatt" 

"What's  right,  Archie.  Latterly—  Oh,  I  don't  know! 
—but  latterly—"  She  passed  her  hand  across  her  brow. 
.  .  .  "Sometimes  I  feel— I  get  to  be  afraid,  Archie— as  if 
we  weren't— as  if  we  hadn't— as  if  something  were  going 
to  happen — ^to  overtake  us — " 

Crossing  the  room,  he  bent  back  her  pretty  head  and 
36a 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

ki«edh«.  "Nonaense,"  he smfled,  unsteadily  "N-™- 
dear.  I>«'t  wonder  at  H-with  aU  weV^b^' thm^ 
erne  way  and  another.    But  that's  wlLrJ^d^^^^ 

diS^T  ?^I  S^ '''"'  "1!**  '"^*^  ^«=°"fort  was  in- 
fo^ bL  ^^'  ""  "^^  ^*  ^°°^e  at  him  distress- 
riSTt  and^!!^"^  ^  ^PP^«  ^"»  Stave  queS^ 
Ste  w^deZ  «;  '*\^°™<*  *^«  P™**^'  difficult.    It  was 


1 


■A  r# 


(■f 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

F^kJT.°°*  **?  ^^*  ***  ''eU  enough  ':>  <-.  listlesdv 
lb«^  to  work,  and  the  Mastermanf  L  v1  L>iw  2? 

Lois  found  her  own  emotions  ripe  for  soeech     n«rinJ^. 

n^^^:  h»V"  ' '?^^J''^<*  each  knew  to  be^^ 
raiy.    While  he  kept  his  office  'houra  in  the  mominra  ^ 

^^„  r^*^  *»■  '^P^tetended  the  g^S^l^ 

ev«^  and  Hstenedt  ^r^^^:'J^^  ^ 

balcony,  or  talked  about  the  stars,  each  knewlftat  U^ 
mner  tension  would  never  be  r^ei  tiU  it  w^bSL^ 
K  there  was  any  doubt  of  that  it  was  on  Th^^fSde. 
B««sr.  she  said  nothing,  there  were  mi^t«  whin  to 
hoped  she  had  nothmg  to  sav     Unaw=™  „f  »  . 

capadty  for  keeping  L  S^'^^XltwI'^' 

t^'  S^'h!^'^'^^^'^'''^-  He  wanted  to 
h^\u  i  ^''^^^  prayer  to  put  up  on  the  subject 
n  w^d  have  be«i  that  she  would  allo^  him  to^Srt" 

^^u^^  ""r^  ^y-  "^^^^y-  peacefully.  w^tTS; 
tef™r,.°"v^  ^  ^"^  comm^rtl^^^gi^ 
tan  pam   he  began  to  indulge  the  hop^-a  hc«e  wWdb 

to  S^rbi!^  '^  *°  '^  basele^-tha^STnil 

When  he  was  caUed  on  at  last  to  face  the  reaHties  of  the 
264 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

ticulur  evening     4r  ^'^^^''^  «P  on  that  pa^ 
«««  she  waa  uno«W«  tH^*  L^''"^™'*-""*  ^ 

to  her  without  wanune  amrri^TT"    ff  "*  ^'^  '*  cwno 
"Thor.  were  yS.nSlr^»'"°J««  *^  ^^ 

which  she  waifed  fS^sTsl^:^^''  ^^"^  » 
heavy  with  the  scents  of  Kl!J^T^'  ™f  *"»  air  was 
As  they  stood  by^^S'tS^fl^' '  '"\""'  -^Ka. 
the  exterior  of  tt^  t^o^^^t'^^"^.*^*  connected 
wa«i  with  an  am  X^  V"^*  fH"^/  ^^  '«^8  out- 
white  lilac.  wh^T^^Zl  ^T^  *^<»  sky.  a  great 

to  their  feet.    ThehThte  of  t^    ^,  °^  ^^^"^  "^"^ 
under  verd^.  the  ey^^hl  tJe^^^^  *^«  ""^ 

;s^d»es-jd?-"jX^T/^^^ 

on  his  inward  way.    J^ow  S^^;/!^'^  ^  '^^ 
was  tracing  for  his  wife's T^Ifir^  r^^  °^  "  P"''^- »»« 

figure,  wmged,  noblelJSt^^        ^^^''  "^cuaibent 
sweet,  sil,^^'  St  aS^.«  •  ^t«™  h°ri«»>.  Spica's 

actualIythi:^gf.owwSSal   ""   q*^*^-    ^^  '^^ 
when  the  words^JlS^t^l^^i^^Spica's  radiance. 

give  money  to  Rosie  Fay  r        ^'^^ '"«*  yo«  going  to 

could,  "If-^f  Claud^C^^  Sf-r  "^"^^^  ^  '''' 
to  help  them  out"        ^"  °'"™«1  "^er  I  was  gomg  to- 

.^^.  Even  so.  it  ten  you  what  you  want  to  know.    Doesn't 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

"Not  emything  I  want  to  know." 

Why  should  you  want  to  know-evwythine?" 

Becaiw*-"    ft  .truck  her  that  wi^  L,m  k- 

beat  apreaMd  by  OaHmg  her  grouaA    ^^7^  ^ 

•cUy  why  did  you  want  tSZ,5^r       ^^*«'«- 

y^H^^.I^"'^'^^    "IthinkltoM 

"Sd  «  ITk^  «ffl«  to  me  aa  to  a--to  a  d«lt«r." 
..And  as  to  a  home.    I  said  that,  too,  Lois." 

I»dtoX-^ffii?"^*-    '«>«'<lonlysay-^hatI 

tniuSt  '^J  ^^i^^V  ^*'-'t'''  i-t  the 
ft.,....!.*     *"u  see,   inor,     she  went  on.  unsteadilv    "T 

::Se^^^^^*"^^"^-'r^^^ 

"But  so  long  as  he  escapes  from  it—" 

trouble  outside  the  re^.'STrin^,:^'  ^^  ^ 
"£k^*l^'T  *^  "P  -^d  d°wn  the  balcony 

C.^-"^*  ^^^-  but  ui^ed  heiself  o^  I  wanJ 
you— to  let  ms  go  away."  o«i  uu      x  ^g^ 

a66 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

vwu  I  "night  ffl«te-«-^d  fox  J^  «•  one  or  two 
it  doesn't  inatt«!^^^'^™***P'«»-    Th*tparto« 

<''?f''l!'''!"^'^*«dtogoawav.f«,„    u 
«  was  to—to  take  lur     t  Z    L  .  "^  "***»  ago—" 

«<m,  because  she's  bStT'  In     "^'^  *  '«*«'  *«  <Kt 

right,  only  changed"^"    ^  *  "^^  <*<»'»•«  right-^S 

what  she  tried  to  doSwiS^LS^'"""^  «^^«J  of 
less  foolish  basis     So^-.T^    **'.'*P°"8aJnona— ona    ' 

'«ner  pointT^y  Sng1^taTS?'.r^«  ^« 

t»>»g  to  do  with  hefTt  Sr^i"  *  "°''  '"'ve  any. 

I  want  to-to  think"    ^^  ^^  **  °°  «y  own  account 

wy^,  chiefly  about  you." 

"''t-^ove  you?    Is  that V       ^*'^^'''"**»«*  or 

befonsTrtiii'lB^y^l'^go^      second  to  pas, 

"The  other  way—howr'     ^^^^  <*«>  other  way." 

."oinii^ri  ;^*?-*-^'o.e^." 

,  "Yes.  I  thou^t inoo-ii    2?,^'!*  5'o»  «Jid" 

do.  e,jennow:id,^;t*^-f  lately.    P^-*"!*  I 

away  fop-to  think-to  seer'^uj*"*  I  want  to  get 


k- 


MICROCOPY   RESOIUTION   TBI   CH«IIT 

(ANSI  ond  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2| 


A  APPLIED  IN/MGE    In 

^as*^  1653   East   Main   5(rt«t 

^'■^  Rochester.   New   York         1*609       le;* 

^■S  (?'6)   *82  -  0300  -  Phone  '^^ 

^^S.  (^'6)   288  -  5969  -  Fa« 


ii:    I     I 


m 


THE    SIDE   OF   THE    ANGELS 

voice  she  hardly  recognized  because  of  the  new  thrill  in  it, 
"I've  done  nothing  to  deserve  the  withdrawal  of — of  your 
affection." 

She  answered  while  still  keeping  her  eyes  absently  on 
Spica's  while  effulgence.  "I  know  you  haven't,  Thor 
dear.  But  that's  not  the  point.  It's  rather  that  I  have 
to  go  back  and — and  revise  everything — form  new  con- 
ceptions." 

He  paused,  standing  behind  her.  "I  don't  think  I  get 
your  idea." 

"No,  probably  not.    You  couldn't  without  knowing 
what  it  all  used  to  mean  to  me." 
"  Used  to  mean?" 

"Yes,  Thor;  used  to  mean  in  a  way  that  it  doesn't 
now,  and  never  can  any  more." 

There  was  pain  in  his  voice  as  he  said,  "That's  hard, 
Lois — damnably  hard." 

"I  know,  Thor  dear.  I  wouldn't  say  it  if  I  hadn't 
made  up  my  mind  that  I  must— that  I  ought  to.  I've 
had  a  great  shock — which  has  been  in  its  way  a  great 
humiliation — but  I  could  go  on  keeping  it  to  myself  if  I 
hadn't  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it's  best  for  you  to 
know.  Men  are  so  slow  to  fathom  what  their  wives  are 
thinking  of — " 

"Well,  then,  tell  me." 

She  turned  slowly  round  from  her  contemplation  of  the 
stars,  a  hand  on  each  side  grasping  the  low  rail  against 
which  she  leaned.  The  spangles  on  a  scarf  over  her  bare 
shoulders  glittered  iridescently  in  the  light  streaming 
from  her  room.  Of  Thor  she  could  discern  little  more 
than  the  whiteness  of  his  face  and  of  his  evening  shirt- 
front  from  the  obscurity  in  which  he  kept  himself.  A 
minute  or  more  elapsed  before  she  went  on. 

"  You  see,  Thor,  I  didn't  fall  in  love  with  you  first  of  all 

for  your  own  sake;   it  was  because — because  I  thought 

you'd  fallen  in  love  with  me.    That's  a  sort  of  confession, 

isn't  it?    It  may  be  something  I  ought  to  be  ashamed  of, 

268 


t     I 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

Md  perhaps  I  am-a  Httle.  But  you'd  understand  how 
It  could  happen  if  you  were  to  realize  whTifw^  to  "T 
that  a  man  should  fall  in  love  with  me  It  ^1"  '  "^  '"^ 
He  tned  to  interrupt  her,  but  she  insisted'  on  going  on 
in  her  own  way.  "I  wasn't  attractive.  Ineverhadte, 
Dunng  the  years  when  I  was  going  out  I  ne^  ^cS 
wha  people  caU  attentions-not  fram  any  onT  TdoS 
say  that  I  d.dn^  suffer  on  account  of  it.  I  did-but T'd 
begun  to  take  the  suffering  philosophically.  Vd  made  uo 
my  mmd  that  no  one  would  ever  cai  e  for  mp  »^  r  ^ 
getting  used  to  the  idea-when-wT^n  yL^T^  '  "" 

chSraTnstUf'  *''."^^'^  '^'  ^''''"^  ^^  i'^dker- 
^  f  fTf  ^i'P'-  ""^'^^  ^^°'^  st°°d  silent  in  the  dark- 
ness of  the  far  end  of  the  balcony 

seJnf^^^th'^""  did  come,  Thor  dear,  it  couldn't  but 

Sat  inTseW-"  "'  "^^  °^  "^^  ^"^"^^  y°"  ^°P^  t°  d°- 
She  broke  off  again,  losing  something  of  her  self-corn 

spMgled  serf  over  her  shoulders  and  stepped  forward 

musf  lov^,^'^'  ?°'',i  ?^^  *°  *«  conclusion  that  you 
must  love  me.     I  couldn't  explain  your  kindness  in  LZ 

tmts^edrh'"^  "^'  \''^''  --Pt  that  "tiT 
till  It  seemed  the  only  one,  but  when  I  did,  well  it  wasn't 
merely  pnde  and  happiness  that  I  felt-it  w^m^ng 

^  Th^H  *^  '^°^°S  °^  ^'■°g^  continued.     "And 

so,  Thor  dear  love  came  to  me,  too.    It  came  because  I 
thought  you  brought  it;   but  now  that  llS  yoT^^'t 
Lt",li,r  f^"  ""'^e^^'and  why  I  should  be  in  doubt 
asto— as  to  whether  ornot— it  reaUy  did  come." 
269. 


I! 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 


i  i 


n 


Since  he  recognized  the  futility  of  making  an  immediate 
response,  they  stood  confronting  each  other  in  silence. 

She  took  another  step  nearer  him.  "  But  what  I'm  not 
in  any  doubt  about  at  all  is  the  scorn  I  feel  for  myself  for 
ever  having  cherished  the  delusion.  If  I'd  been  a  woman 
with — ^with  more  claim,  let  us  say,  to  being  loved — " 

"Lois,  for  God's  sake,  don't  say  that!" 

"  But  I  must  say  it,  Thor.  It's  at  the  bottom  of  all  I 
mean.  I  was  weak  and  foolish  enough  to  think  that  in 
spite  of  the  things  I  lacked  a  >  ..ui  had  given  me  his  heart 
— whpn  he  hadn't." 

"I        I  can't  stand  this.    Please  don't  go  on." 

"t  at  I  have  to  stand  it,  Thor.  I  have  to  stand  it  day 
and  night,  without  ever  getting  away  from  the  thought  of 
it.  I  have  to  go  back  and  puzzle  and  wonder  and  speculate 
as  to  why  you  did  what  you've  done  to  me.  I  see  things 
this  way,  'Thor:  There  was  a  time  when  you  thought  you 
might  come  to  care  for  me.  You  really  thought  it.  And 
then — something  happened — and  you  were  not  so  sure. 
Later,  you  felt  that  you  couldn't — that  you  never  would. 
But  the  something  that  happened  happened  the  wrong  way 
for  you — and  papa  broke  down  as  he  did — and  I  was  in 
danger  of  being  poor — and  you  were  kind  and  generous — 
and — you  weren't  very  happy  as  things  were — you  told 
me  so,  didn't  you?  And — and — in  short — you  thought 
you  might  as  well.  You  knew  I  expected  it — or  had 
expected  it  once — and  so — so  you  did  it.  Tell  me,  Thor 
dear;  am  I  so  very  far  wrong?    Wasn't  it  like  that?" 

He  raised  his  head  defiantly.  "And  if  I  admitted  that 
it  was  like  that,  what  then?" 

"Oh,  nothing.  I  should  merely  ask  you  the  same 
thing — ^to  let  me  go  away." 

"Away  for  how  long?" 

She  reflected.  "Till  I  could  establish  a  new  basis  on 
which  to  come  back." 

"I  don't  know  what  you  mean  by  a  new  basis." 

"I  dare  say  I  don't  mean  anything  very  different  from 
370 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE  ANGELS 

SerTaSr  Zr'tO''  '^"^  *°  ^^  «ttle  while 

not  the  man  I  thouS  ;^'  w^  '  T  '^  f°*  *''«  '^- 
while  to  get  used  to  tC  "  ^  '""'*  ^^^  «  ^tUe 

Jie  stirred  uneasily.    "youfi„drn.-r„.not  sogooda 

iu;;°a;  g^°:^X*J:L^  Ji-:^-3.  t^^^^  at «..    VOU-. 

laying  her  hands  on  L  sToJ^dl-  s-4h  T"*^  "^^  *°  '^™- 
stand.  IlovedtheothCTTW  %•  °^- y°" don't under- 
this  one.    I  don't  Low  -    ^™/°'  ^^  '^^'  ^  '°ve 

get  away  from  you.    Lein  rt   °     ^  ^an  t  teU  til]  I 

She  stepped  back  from  hi,.  .    ^l  "°*  ^  ^°'  '°ng- " 

The  pose  s^t  off^v  t?  ^   ^°^  °^  *^  "I^  window-door 

d-ss'^e  wL  l^he  hawf  „f  ^  °'  *''  "'^  ^'"'^^  ^«^« 

alone.  disp.ayed'hfi'^^'^S  Jh^  ^^  -- 

&  r*^*  ''^  l^ad  never  ob^fv^brfol     pf™  *°  " 
bered  afterward  thaf  .^^^t-u-       \~^  oerore.    He  remem- 

he  stammerli  .m-'-oUTI^l"  ?™°'^'"-  ^y"" 
the  country  by  yom^//  ^v  ^T,  /°"  '°  «°  ^°^«S 
go  away  for  I  w^and^^  coid  Z  ^°J  '  .'°^'^ 
warmed  to  the  idea  L^J      i,    u     ^^^^  ^^'^"    He 

271 


I 

I.: 


ha 


THE    SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

go.  I'll  go — and  I'll  not  come  back  till  you  tell  me. 
There.    Will  that  do?" 

The  advantages  of  the  arrangement  were  evident.  She 
answered  slowly.  "It — it  might.  But  what  about  your 
patients?" 

"Oh,  Hill  would  look  after  them.  He  said  he  would 
if  I  wanted  to  attend  the  medical  congress  at  Minneapolis. 
I  told  him  I  didn't,  but — but" — he  tapped  the  rail  to  em- 
phasize the  timeliness  of  the  idea — "but,  by  George! 
I'll  do  it.  You'd  have  three  weeks  at  least — and  as  many 
more  as  you  ask  for." 

She  gave  the  suggestion  a  minute's  thought.  "Very 
well,  Thor.  Since  the  congress  is  going  on — and  your 
time  wouldn't  be  altogether  thrown  away —  You  see, 
all  I  want  is  a  little  quiet — a  little  solitude,  perhaps — ^just 
to  realize  where  I  am— and  to  see  how — to  begin  again — 
if  we  ever  can." 

She  closed  one  side  of  the  window,  softly  and  slowly. 
Her  hands  were  on  the  other  battant  when  he  uttered  a 
little  throaty  crj'.    "Aren't  you  going  to  say  good  night?" 

Standing  on  the  low  step  of  the  window,  she  was  suf- 
ficiently above  '^im  tc  be  able  to  fold  his  head  in  her  arms, 
to  pillow  it  on  her  breast,  while  she  imprinted  £  long  kiss 
on  the  thick,  dark  mass  of  his  hair.  Having  released  him, 
she  withdrew,  closing  the  window  gently  and  pulling  down 
the  blinds. 

Outside  in  the  darkness  Thor  turned  once  more  to  where 
the  Virgin,  recumbent,  noble,  outlined  and  crowned  with 
stars,  Spica  the  wheat-ear  in  the  hand  hanging  by  her  side, 
rose  slowly  toward  mid-heaven.  Irrelevantly  there  came 
back  to  his  memory  something  said  months  before  by 
his  uncle  Sim,  but  which  he  had  not  recalled  since  the  night 
he  heard  it.  "You  may  make  an  awful  fool  of  yourself, 
Thor,  but  you'll  be  on  the  side  of  the  angels — and  the 
angels  will  be  on  yours." 

"Humph!"  he  snorted  to  himself.  "That's  all  very  fine. 
But — ^where  aietheangels?"   Andagainhe  sought  the  stars. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

iTenrc/SFtheTndtortlr'of^'  '""'^  ^^^^  ^^y^ 
ended.     ''Want  al^ci.  Tt\      *'lt  ^^  ^^  definitely 

had  asked  briskly  ■■'1^™;^^  ^1:  ^^*^™«n?"  he 
Mr.  Fay's  place  Look^X-  .T  ^^"*'"'  ^"^  ^'«  ^' 
Beat  pL^nd  ^^Xl.'^^^^^^^^^^fl'Z- 
Get  a  nice  one  cheap  at  Mr.  Fay's  ''  '^'"• 

Wondered.     "Is  Mr.  Pay  seuing  off ?" 

wanf  fo  Z  Te'r  to  ™'*^'^  "^^«  "^^^  ^e  don't 

whL  first  taXl^to'ive  t'^T.^  ^°"f  •  ^'^^  """^^ 
anything  for  t ^res  Xl^^tSf  %*^  *°  ^* 
to  the  infomiation  j,tst  recdvS  T^^-^  ^°  ^^'°°^ 
■' Why,  Jiffl,  tell  me  about  ^.'''  ^  '^'^'  «=»°«dy. 
He  drew  from  the  wagon  a  wooden  •'*?,+  »  en  j  •  . 
zinnia   plantlings,   like   so  \;  J^^,       *    ^^  '^th 


'Mti 


'ti 


I 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

,  dandy  place  there.  Had  architects  and  landscape- 
gardeners  prowling  'round  for  the  last  two  weeks,  and  old 
man  Fay  won't  allow  one  of  them  on  the  grounds.  You'd 
die  laughing  to  see  him  chasing  them  off  with  a  spade  or 
a  rake  or  whatever  he  has  in  his  hand.  His  property  till 
July  ninth,  he  says,  and  he  wouldn't  let  so  much  as  a  crow 
fly  over  it  if  it  belonged  to  Hadley  B.  Hobson.  You'd  die 
laughing." 

"I  don't  see  how  you  can  laugh  when  he's  in  such 
trouble,  poor  man." 

"Oh,  well,"  Jim  drawled,  optimistically,  "he  won't  do 
so  bad.  He  can  always  have  a  job  w'th  father  Father's 
mingled  with  him  ever  since  the  two  of  them  were  young. 
If  Mr.  Fay  hadn't  been  so  moonstruck  he'd  have  had  just 
the  same  chance  as  father  had." 

Lois  chose  a  moment  which  seemed  to  be  discreet  in 
order  to  say:  "  I  know  Rosie  quite  well.  I've  seeL.  a  good 
deal  of  her  during  the  past  few  months." 

"Rosie's  all  right,  Mrs.  Masterman,"  Jim  answered, 
suddenly  and  a  trifle  aggressively.  "I  don't  care  what 
any  one  says — she's  all  right." 

"  I  know  she's  all  right,  Jim.  She's  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable characters  I've  ever  met.  I  often  wish  she'd  let 
me  help  her  more." 

"Well,  you  hold  on  to  her,  Mrs.  Masterman,"  he  ad- 
vised, with  a  curious,  pleading  quality  in  his  voice. 
"  You'll  find  she'll  be  worth  it.  And  if  ever  a  girl  was  up 
against  it — she  is." 

"  I  will  hold  on  to  her,  Jim." 

"It's  all  rot  what  people  are  saying  that  she'd  gone 
melancholy  because  she  took  that  fool  jump  into  the 
pond.  I  know  how  she  did  it.  She'd  got  to  the  point 
where  she  couldn't  help  it,  where  she  just  couldn't  stand 
any  more — ^with  the  business  all  gone  to  pieces  and  Matt 
coming  out  of  jail,  and  everything  else.  Who  wouldn't 
have  done  it?  I'd  have  done  it  myself,  if  I'd  been  a  girl. 
She'd  got  worked  up,  Mrs.  Masterman,  and  when  girls 
a74 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

get  worked  up,  why,  they'll  do  anything.     I  believe  thff 
shock's  done  her  good.    Sort  of  cleared  her  mind  like." 

Lois  tried  to  be  tactful.    "Then  you  see  her.>" 

*'We-lI— on  and  off."  He  grew  appealing  and  confi- 
dential. "I  don't  mind  telling  you,  Mrs.  Masterman," 
he  began,  as  if  acknowledging  an  indiscretion,  "I  we  it 
with  Rosie  once.    Went  with  her  for  over  a  year." 

"Did  you,  Jim?" 

He  leaned  nonchalantly  against  Maud's  barrel-shaped 
body,  his  face  taking  on  an  expressoin  of  boyish  regret. 
"And  I'd  have  gone  on  going  with  her  if— if  Rosie  hadn't 
— ^hadn't  kind  of  droppt.  J  me." 

"Oh,  but,  Jim,  why  should  she?" 

"We-11,  I  can  understand  it.  Rasie's  high-toned,  you 
faiow,  Mrs.  Masterman,  and  she's  got  a  magnificent  educa- 
tion. I  guess  you  wouldn't  come  across  them  more  re- 
fined, not  in  the  most  tip-top  families.  Pretty  I  My 
Lord !  pretty  isn't  the  word  for  it.  And  I  think  she  grows 
prettier.  And  work!  Why,  Mrs.  Masterman,  if  that  girl 
was  at  the  head  of  a  plant  like  oiu^  there  wouldn't  be  any- 
thing for  father  and  me  to  do  but  sit  in  a  chair  and  rock." 

"I'm  glad  she's  willing  to  see  yon,"  Lois  ventured. 

He  sprang  to  his  seat  behind  Maud.  "  Well,  I  guess  she 
needs  all  the  friends  she's  got." 

Lois  ventured  still  further.  "  I'm  sure  she  needs  friends 
like  you,  Jim." 

There  was  a  flare  in  his  eye  as  he  fumbled  for  the  reins. 
"Well,  she's  only  got  to  stoop  and  pick  me  up.  Git 
along,  Maud.  Gee!"  In  obedience  to  his  pull  Maud 
arched  her  heavy  neck  and  executed  a  sidewise  movement 
uncertainly.  "She  knows  I'm  there,"  he  continued,  as 
the  wagon  creaked  round.  "Been  there  ever  since  she 
capped  me.  Gee!  Maud,  gee!  What  you  thinking  of? 
I've  never  gone  with  any  one  else,  Mrs.  Masterman — not 
really  gone  with  them.  Rosie's  been  the  only  one  so  far. 
Well,  good-by.  And  you  ivill  hold  on  to  her,  Mrs.  Mas- 
terman, now,  won't  you?" 

ays 


m' 


'^ 


:'iM 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   A.  GELS 

"Indeed  I  will,  Jim-and-and  you  must  do  the  same." 

r^^  .  J'^  *  ™*^  ^°°^  °^«  ^  shoulder,  as  Maud 
paced  toward  the  gate.  -Oh.  I'm  on  the  job  ev^ry  tin^  " 
ntV^i.^  gave  her  a  number  of  themes  for  thought, 
of  which  the  most  msistent  was  the  power  some  women  had 
of  drawing  out  the  love  of  men.  For  the  rt«t  of  the  d^ 
l^^fw^E-  "^^  "°  """"^  '•^  «  mechanical  direct- 
h!  n  M  "^"i"^  °"'  °^  "^^^Ks.  while  she  meditated  on 
the  problem  of  attractiveness. 

How  was  it  that  women  of  small  endowments  cou'd 

S^S.v'"  ^'  ''«'''•  ^^  '''^'  "'"'^  °f  inexl^us^i^ 
potentmht.es-s.ie  was  not  afraid  to  rank  hei^lf  among 
them-went  unrecognized  and  undesired?  If  Rosie  Fav 
had  been  content  with  the  honors  of  a  local  belle  she 
could  have  had  her  choice  among  half  the  „  mVVn 

thL'lT  •  7^'  r^  ^"^  ^'^  What  wL  tlfe^ft  of 
that  great  sisterhood,  comprising  perhaps  a  third  of  the 

S^tlve^  ""''•'  *°  ^""^  ''''  "^^""'y  °'  --  °^^ 
mshnctively,  ignoring,  or  partially  ignoring,   the  rest? 

was  It  mere  sheep-stupidity  in  men  themselves  that  sent 

one  where  the  other,  went,  without  capacity  for  indfvid^ 

4scermnent?-or  was  there  a  secret  call  that  women  hke 

tw'J^^v' "f  1^"'  ^"'"^  ^^^'  '"^^  t°°  ">"ch  of 
tnat  for  which  other  women  were  left  famishing? 

She  put  the  question  that  evening  to  Dr.  Sim  Master- 
»an  who  had  dropped  in  to  see  her,  L  he  not  i^ri« S 
did  after  his  supper,  now  that  Thor  was  away.  Indid 
his  vjsits  were  so  regular  as  to  make  her  afraid  that  v^th 
more^  Th^f'  k'  '""^'"f  ^'=°"'^  ^'Sht  he  suspected 
medicine.  ^'°  *^  ^  ^"^  ^^  ^°'^<*  °^ 

"Why  do  men  fall  in  love  with  inferior  women?— 
become  infatuated  with  them?" 

He  answered  while  sprawling  before  the  Ubrary  fire 
^s  long  legs  apart,  his  fingers  interlocked  over  Ws  old 

bhe  can  t  get  hold  of  it  by  the  right  end." 
376 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

out  of  ten."  ''^^"K  end  first— nine  women 

-whlr^Si'^i-^^"^-  "^^"-^y-dtei, 

to  W"«re7ne  elt'lj  Jnll'^  ^I^  ^'^^^^  '"«  -«nct 
desitetobelovedin^'tZ  T^n?  '^'  T""^  P'^™  ^^e 
the  cart  before  the  ho,^'  shr",  ?v  ",!•  '^^  ^°™^"  P"ts 
befo,^  she's  done  ^Sg  to  g'e  l^^' f  ^"^"^  -'"™ 
We  half  .  .„,,  ^>:„  J,^J- -^  ^IffiVdsT^ll^," 

asked,  "Pipds  h^Sft  ?:  it'°wa"^./""''-  '''^'  ^^ 

"InS^itSr^^^-'f  •  •'^.^b.ed  on. 
em  hann.    Sets  •emtnJf      u  ^^P^^sion,  and  it  does 

rteThJro^ri'°i^  rather  important." 

whichthatcan^I°d-and2^  "w '''  ""'^  '"^'"^  °^ 
was.  Make  their  lives  depend  ™  ,7^";^ °"  ^^  '^  '* 
cangetit,weUandgoodMf„orfi  .^'''^*-  "  y°« 
.  She  lifted  her  held  not  C'lfr' "^'^^"°"-" 
indignation.  "  Compaiation^r^  aamement  than  in 
lo^gr-  '-ompensation  for  having  to  do  without 

"Heaps." 

"And  may  I  ask  what'" 

te4°."^^SoVfond  S'""-'  '"l?^-'^  --    Be  like 
weU  off  JwTtS."         °^  ^  "^^  '^^  I'^'d  be  just  as 

«77 


s^^^K 

j' 

-l?9^I^^H 

f 

-  ^''-ll^i^^H 

1 

'  /^M 

1 

'^M 

ti 

-  'i^L 

J 

|J|B 

THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

She  said,  musingly,  "Yes;  love  t:  the  wine  of  lite,  isn't 
it?" 

"Wine  that  maketh  glad  the  heart  o£  man — and  can 
also  play  the  deuce  with  it." 

She  sat  for  some  time  smiling  to  herself  with  faint 
amusement.  "Do  you  really  disapprove  of  love.  Uncle 
Sim?"  she  asked,  at  last. 

He  yawned  loudly  and  stretched  himself.  "What  'd 
be  the  good  of  that?  Don't  disapprove  of  it  any  more 
than  I  disapprove  of  the  circulation  of  the  blood.  Force 
in  life — of  course!  Treasure  to  be  valued  and  peril  to  be 
controlled.  To  play  with  it  requires  skill;  to  utilize  it 
calls  for  wisdom." 

She  had  again  been  smilinj;  gently  to  herself  when  she 
said,  "  I  doubt  if  you  can  ever  have  been  in  love." 

"Got  nothing  to  do  with  it.  Not  obliged  to  have  been 
insane  to  understand  insanity.  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
best  brain  specialists  have  always  kept  their  senses." 

"Oh,  then,  you  rate  love  with  insanity." 

"Depends  on  the  kind.  Some  sorts  not  far  from 
it.  Obsession,  Brain-storm.  Supernormal  excitement. 
Passing  commotion  of  the  senses.  Comes  as  suddenly 
as  a  summer  tempest — thunder  and  lightning  and  rain — 
and  goes  the  same  way." 

"Oh,  but  would  you  call  that  love?" 

"You  bet  I'd  call  it  love.  Love  the  poets  write  about. 
Grand  passion.  Whirls  along  like  a  tornado — makes  a 
noise  and  kicks  up  dust — and  all  over  in  an  afternoon. 
That's  the  real  thing.  If  you  can't  love  like  that,  you 
can't  love  at  all — not  in  the  grand  manner.  The  going 
just  as  vital  as  the  coming.  Very  essence  of  it  that  it 
shouldn't  last.  That's  why  Shakespeare  kills  his  Romeo 
and  his  Juliet  at  the  end  of  the  play — and  Wagner  his 
Tristan  and  his  Isolde.  Nothing  else  to  do  with  'em. 
People  of  that  kind  go  through  just  the  same  set  of  high 
jinks  six  or  eight  months  later  with  some  one  else;  and  . 
in  poetry  that  wouldn't  do.  Romantic  lovers  love  by 
378 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

crises  and  never  pass  twice  the  same  way.     People  who 

"But  surely  there  is  a  love—" 

aIIPI  \^^  "^"Z'  ^^"^  f'0"^-'<ecP>ng  variety.  Of  course' 
And  ,  bears  the  same  relation  to  the  other  kind  as  a  e^ 
of  m,lk  to  a  bottle  of  champagne.     Mind  you   I  lIL  mU? 

A^v^Z:-  u  ^."  '^' '°"«  ~"  •'  '"  ^>^='t'cha;npaBne  any 
day-<^pcci:Jly  where  you  expect  babies.  I'm  only  sav- 
mg  that  It  doesn't  come  of  the  san.e  vintage  L  V^v^^ 
Clujuot.  Women  often  wish  it  did;  and  when  it  dX^t 
they  make  thmgs  uncomfortable.  No  uso.  Can't  m^e 
a  Tristan  out  of  good,  hone.st,  faithful  William  Dobbi^ 

ecc^r/nV-n;:; '"^"^  1°  "'^"'^?^  *''^'*  vaporings  as  those  of  an 
eccontnc  old  man  v/ho  could  know  little  or  nothing  on  the 

Sh  v^^'l"^^^*^  '    *^  ^P«^t  °f  the  question  which 
stmwJ.^""'"'^/      1  she  started  the ?hcmo.     "Y^ 
stil  haven  t  answered  ^     it  I  asked-as  to  why  men  fall 
m  love  w,th  inferior  women,  and  often  with  a^ind  o 
infatuation  they  hardly  ever  fed  for  the  good  ones  '' 

He  took  longer  than  usual  to  reflect.  "Pare  of  man's 
dual  nature.  Paul  knew  a  good  deal  about  that  Ats 
the  new  man  m  contrast  to  the  old  mai.-the  imier  man 

trast  to  the  carnal.    The  old,  outer,  carnal  man  falls  in 
tove  with  one  kind  of  pei^on.  and  the  new,  inner,  spWtul" 
man  with  another.     Depends  on  which  element  is  the 
stn,nger.    The  higher  faUs  in  love  with  the  higher  tyS 
the  lower  with  the  lower."  '^ 

"But  suppose  neither  is  stronger  than  the  other?-that 
they  re  equally  balanced— and— ?" 

"And  in  conflict.    One  of  the  commonest  sights  in  life 
K^own  feUows  m  love  with  two  women  at  the  sLe  time^ 
with  a  good  wife  at  home,  mother  of  the  children,  and  all 
279 


THE   SIDE  OF   THE   ANGELS 

that— and  another  kind  of  woman  somewhere  eke.    True 
m  a  way,  to  'em  both.    Struggle  of  the  two  natures  "       ' 
Lois  was  distressed.    "Oh,  but  that  kind  of  thine  can't 
be  love. 

"Can't  be?  'Tis.  Ask  any  one  who's  ever  felt  it— 
whos  been  dragged  by  it  both  ways  at  once.  He'll  teU 
you  whether  it's  love  or  not— and  each  kind  the  real 
thing- while  it  lasts." 

It  was  the  expression  "while  it  lasts"  that  Lois  most 
resented.  It  reduced  love  to  a  phase— to  a  passing  experi- 
ence that  might  be  repeated  on  au  indefinite  number  of 
occasions.  It  was  more  than  a  depreciation;  it  had  the 
nature  of  a  sacrilege.  And  yet  no  later  than  the  following 
d-.y  she  received  a  shock  that  showed  her  there  was  some- 
thing to  be  said  in  its  favor. 

She  had  gone  nominaUy  to  see  Rosie,  but  really  to 
verify  for  herself  Jim  Breen's  report  of  the  coUapse  of 
Jasper  Fay  s  Uttle  industry.  She  found  it  hard  to  beKeve 
that  after  Claude's  conduct  toward  Rosie  her  father-in- 
law  could  have  the  heart  to  bring  further  Troe  upon  a 
family  that  had  ah-eady  had  enough.  Nothing  but  seeing 
tor  herself  could  coerce  her  incredulity. 

She  had  seen  for  herself.  Over  the  little  place  which 
had  always  been  neat  even  when  it  was  forlorn  there  was 
now  the  stamp  of  desolation.  The  beds  which  had  been 
seeded  or  planted  a  month  before,  and  which  should  now 
have  been  weeded,  trimmed,  and  hoed,  were  growing  with 
an  untended  recklessness  that  had  all  the  proverbial 
resemblance  to  moral  breakdown.  In  the  cucumber- 
house  the  vines  had  become  rusty  and  limp,  sagging 
frmn  the  twines  on  which  they  climbed  in  debauched  in- 
difference to  sightliness.  The  roof  of  the  hothouse  that 
had  contamed  the  flowers  had  a  deep  gash  in  the  glass 
which  It  was  no  longer  worth  while  to  mend.  There  was 
no  yellow-brown  plume  from  the  furnace  chimney,  and 
the  very  wmdows  of  the  old  house  with  the  mansard  roof 
280 


!  5 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 


eyes 

say  at  aU.    L<as  had  accosted  him.  and  thouXf^  t,o^ 

to  look  back  and  see  that  the  very  thing  that  ^ed  ™^f 

n^wiSm^Scery;.^^  "°*^«^  «-*"- 
she  ^Srri^W    ^'  ^^"^S  •"  P-««><=«  till 

worhariXr^'r  ^r^°  ^^rs^rr^: 

=^w£itStoner!^S.i£FS 
^  mysticism  had  vanished  from  the^ri^'be^ 

^  the  mouths,  o^  oil  mS^^ome'^rSrofr^r 

°letd&IF--s^-xr 

m  ™w-^^  to  tan  tor  «»i»  mmtt,  bet„„  i.'^JX 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

With  a  hoe  in  his  hand  he  crept  forward,  taking  his  place 
behind  a  clump  of  syringa  that  grew  near  the  gate,  liady 
to  stnke  If  either  of  the  lads  ventured  to  put  foot  S 

H^^^Ui^T^^T,*^**  ^*^*^°°  **  ^'^<*-  according  to 
light-hearted  Jun  Breen,  you  would  have  died  laugWne- 
but  Lois  had  difficulty  in  keeping  back  her  tea«!^  ^' 
.^^  fo^d  Rode  in  the  ht:  house,  of  which  the  interior 
corr^ponded  to  the  gash  in  the  roof.  All  the  smSl« 
ri^^  T^  ^°  removed,  disclosing  the  empty,  ugly, 
earth -stained,  water  -  stained  wooden  stagings  (My 
s^^e  ^half-dozen  feni-tr«es  remained  of  ^  the  fonnar 

dei"*wh^/T  ^°^^  "T.  **  ^°'^-  ^«^«  at  ^<^  old 
TCL-  ?•  depnved  of  its  sheltering  greenery  was 
shabbier  than  ever,  making  out  bills.  There  wm  still 
money  owmg  to  her  father,  and  it  was  important  that  it 

Sf  "^r"''^^'';.-f  "^  °"^  again'^r^te  h^ 
neat     Acct.  rendered,"  while  she  added  as  a  postscriot 

"I^TVr^'^*-  Going  out  of  buS^'^* 
T^T^tJk  f      ^  T^  anything  on  the  dilapidated 

E^.  ^f  "^"^  '*^.°'  ^'^"^e^  ^t  was  Rosie. 
With  the  r,iforced  rest  and  seclusion  foUowing  on  her 
faaU^  dash  to  escape,  her  pi^ttiness  had  bedrmo^ 
dehcate,  less  worn.  Shame  at  her  folly  had  put  into  her 
greenish  eyes  a  pleading  timidity  which  became  a  quiv^ 
mg  babyish  tremble  when  it  reached  the  lips  The 
contrast  which  the  girl  thus  presented  to  her^te! 
Ter^^M  Jr-'^r^  *^*  ''^  ^'''y  developing^i,^ 
^;T^  ^"  *°  ^^^  ***  ^'^'^h  hitherto  she  had 
^Al^  or  suspected,  that  the  wild  leap  into  the 
praid  had  worked  some  mysterious  good 

hike  her  father  and  mother,  Rosie  had  little  to  say 
It^f^^^T^  embarrassing.  There  were  too  many 
unuttered  and  unutterable  thoughts  on  both  sides  to 
make  mtercourse  easy  or  agreeable.  All  they  could 
achieve  was  to  be  sorry  for  each  other,  in  a  mSsi^to 
respect  each  other,  and  to  make  up  by  «n^^^ 
282  ^^ 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

the^in^?RS^5"iiS^«S^^ -ted  at 
staging.  It  fumshedlhriXtith^^../-  %*"P*y 
to  be  ^le  to  teU  the  new'pC^lf  S^^'^i  fath'^: 
nad  taken  a  iob  with  Mr  Rr<u>„     tx       rr^r  .         latner 

Having  given  sympathetic  views  on  these  t«,Wc  »= 

I^  turned  in  surprise.    "Yes,  Rosie.?    -What?" 

Ix>«  wondered.    "What  do  you  mean  by  that.  Rode?" 
a83 


i 


:f\ 


THE    SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

"Only  that-that  he  needn't.  I-I  don't  care  whether 
he  stays  away  or  not. 

Lois  took  a  step  back  toward  the  girl.  "You  mean 
Hiat  It  doesnt  make  any  difference  to  you  what  he 
ooesr 

She  shook  her  head.  "No;  not  now;  not— not  any 
more.  ' 

"That  is,  you've  given  him  up?" 

Rosie  sought  for  an  e.xplanation.  "I  haven't  riven 
mm  up.     I  oidy—see." 

"You  see  what,  Rosie?" 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know.  It's— it's  like  having  had  a  dream 
—a  strange,  awful  dreamT— and  waking  from  it  " 

"Waking  from  it?" 
..  ,^°^«  nodded.  She  made  a  further  effort  to  explain 
After  I— I  did— what  I  did— that  day  at  Duck  Rock— 
everything  was  different.  I  can't  describe  it.  It  was 
hke  dymg^-and  coming  back.  It  was  like— like  waking  " 
Do  you  mean  that  what  happened  before  seemed— 
unreal? 

She  nodded  again.  "Yes,  that's  it.  It  was  hke  a 
play.  But  she  corrected  herself  quickiv.  "No-  it 
TOsn't  like  a  play.  It  was  more  than  that.  It  was' like 
a  dream— an  awful  dream— but  a  dream  you  like— a  dream 
you  d  go  through  again.  No;  you  wouldn't  go  through 
It  agam— It  would  kill  you."  "She  grew  incoherent.  "Oh 
I  don  t  know— I  don't  know.  It's  gone— iust  gone.  I 
dOT  t  say  It  wasn't  real.  It  was  real.  It  ./as  a  kind  of 
frenzy.  It  got  hold  of  me.  It  got  hold  of  me  body  and 
soul.    I  couldn't  think  of  anything  else— while  it  lasted  " 

Lois  was  pained.    "Oh,  but,  Rosie,  love  can't  come 
and  go  like  that." 

"Can't  it?  Then  it  wasn't  love."  But  she  contradicted 
r^..^^^"    "Yes,  it  iwis  love.    It  was  love-while  it 

While  it  lasted!    Whilfe  it  lasted!    The  phrase  seemed 
to  be  on  every  one's  Hps.    There  was  distress  in  Lois's 
284 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 


it  ought  to 


voice  as  she  said  "Huf  it  ;«•  »~   i        ^ 
have  lasted."  »f  >»  was  love.  Rosie, 

^"1  Rosie  seemed  to  aeree  with  tier  "v  .. 
have.  But  it  didn't.  if^cTt^ff-  J"*: '*  °"«ht  to 
away;  it  just-it  just-^V'  a^' J?°'  'l*^<^'*  «» 
struggling  with  the  diSTshe  f^nH  T^8  ^«*  h«4». 
self.     "After  that  da^t  mrt  R^l"*  ^P'^^ng  her- 

It  was  on  behalf  of  love  that  T.™'=  r^u  j  • 

»Sr"Si"i?i5^;r:sS'^  ■■'*»■'•«' 

but  I  sha'n't  see  torTif  tI  T^^°*°°'"y  *^«»«t- 

^d  of  me;  and  wT^LiS^n^L'?^"'  i"-."^'*  »« 
WMit  to-to  forget  thetHl^'  *  ^  «^d  of  me.    I 

That  love  could  bTlS  tot^^^P*  '°^^- 
the  tornado  whose  rare  rfi«  ~  oram-stonn-       ssion— 

wound  to  her  t^d^t  tlfe*  "^Tt  t^""'--^^  * 
must  be  taken  intn  ^«^  t-  ^^*  *®  natural  man 
also  did  .^S^^  to  X^^"°",f.'^  «  *-  ^-tual 
serene,  smoo^lh^^'^f  g^  ^^1^"  ^  ^kf  .  to  make  a 
the  girl,  studying  Kb«^«^™^,  '*?°f  ^"""^K  J°°«  at 
to  say.  calmir- wSuTl^^^  '^°'^.^"  ^^  «We 
taow     I-.etSS.iTi.i?:^te  o'^?'^""^ 

ne^leX'^TeS^JTh  \  T^^^^^^^  was 
awa.thatHoJ:rafS^p— -tn^e 


'   1 

■'J 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

gasping  cry  cs  before.    "Mrs.  Mastennan!    I  want  to 

^iJZ'"^'''^'"'''    ^'  "^  "^y  lookedTLd 

mother.    They  think  the  world  of  you-mnther  especiaUy 
Do  you  suppose  they'd  mind  very  much  if  i-if  1  iJuwd?" 
Lois  was  puzzled     "If  you  did  what.  Rosier 
_IfItumed;  if  I  turned  Catholic." 
"Oh!" 

n JIit^^f"^i  ^^'?^  ^  Strong  in  Lois.  She  was 
prepared  to  defend  it  by  argument  and  with  affection 
For  a  minute  she  was  almost  on  the  point  of  stating  the 
S^^  Protestant  position  when  sWas  deterrJd  by 

R^i^  I?'  °^  ^u^^  '^^  ^•°^<1  »>«  h^ve  said  t^ 
^r^V    ^^^.'^""beied  suddenly  something  that  he  once 

^■Z'  ^  "/°?  "TuT"  ^y  '^  ^^P^  °^  the  Christian 
rehgion,  do  it-for  the  least  of  them  aU  will  save  you  " 
Remembermg  this.  Lois  withheld  her  arguments,  asldng 

Sig ThST"    ''"'^''°^'  "^y  ^°^<^  y^  "^^^ 

Rode  flushed.  "Oh.  I  don't  know.  I've  been  "-she 
hung  her  he«i-"  I've  been  pretty  bad.  you  W  7v2 
tdd  h^-^d  I-I  tried  to  kill  m^-^ev^ihing^ 
^^^d  you  thrnk  you'd  get  more  help  that  way  Uii^y 

J!^^'l^^'t^°J-    I'^nttwicelately-nothere-ia 
town.    It  frightened  me.    I— I  liked  it  " 

.  ^f^}^.  <Jared  she  would  have  asked  if  Jim  Breen  had 

"^Pired  this  sudden  change,  but  she  said,  merdr^'^ 

I  don  tbeheye  your  father  and  mother  would  feel  badly  i^ 

Is  rt  that  you  want  me  to  talk  to  them?-to  help  you 

^^e  nodded  silently,  and  with  face  averted  in  a  kind  of 

•'  V«y  well,  thai,  I  will."  She  felt  it  due  to  her  own 
o^TCbo^toadd:  "PerhapsIcandoitaUthebetIS 
"•ecause-because  my  personal  opinions  are  the  other  way. 

386 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

you'U  be  happy,  aftera^4S  tli-  ^'  ""f '  ^  "J"  ^ope 
Rosie  was  too  strone^d  «.f   ^"^ '^  ^«- you^ 

J^^tlS^.^:!;?,?- 5«^^--  :Vou  a^  ., 
I  do.  I  begin.  howe;«rfL^^„^^*?J^f  can't  ^V  that 
f°r  my  remaining  puzd^  IlS  ,  *''*^ '«  not  a  reason 
begin  to  ask  if  l^Cf^C^t^  }^%  «  the  daiT^i 
what  it  is.    Do  you?  V^   T!  '.'~^  anybody  knows 

Is  >t  a  temporary  thmgT-^l^'^  Tt  «dividuak? 
U  matter?  Is  it  one  of  thTSgh^S^TV^'^S^-^  d«« 
or.one  of  the  lowest.'-or  t  j.  1  r^?'"'^^  we  have?- 
«"^natenature  which^d^L^P"?*^  ™P^se  of 
t°God?    Is  there  a%S^*'!r!i°Pi«<J  Perfected  leads 

Is  the  one  man  on  the^Tort^^  ^^"^  °^  <*«  "ther? 
would  say.  and  the  ottl'^^'L^f?^^  1.  ^^"^^'^  Sin, 
stronger  gains  the  victcj^r^l  t  *^^^•  *^  *''« 
ofthenatureofobsesS?  liL^  v  *^  """^^mg  in  love 
ton^dc^  "ioIenTTSpa^  iT'  ^''.«°  '*«  *« 
Thor.  darling,  I  begin  to  teSS;>  .  ,"^  '^'^y  Passed? 
^t^^gainlwanuTtTbeon^^.l^"-  " '"^  ««  to 
f««Kl-a  ground  we  don/t  h,f^  ^^'^  g«>und-a  new 
but  which  SpsZZi^^J^^  «•«"*  «s  yet. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 


THOKLBY  MASTERMAN  pondered  on  the  word* 
Lots  had  written  him  as  he  tramped  along  the  bluffs 
above  the  Mississippi,  with  the  towers  and  spires  of 
Minneapolis  looming  like  battlements  through  tiie  haze 
of  an  afternoon  at  the  end  of  June.  He  had  left  the  con- 
ference on  new  methods  of  treating  the  thyroid  gland 
which  was  being  held  in  St.  Paul  in  order  to  think  his 
position  out.  Having  motored  over  from  his  hotel  in 
Minneapolis,  he  preferred  to  "tramp  it"  back.  The 
glorious  wooded  way  on  the  St.  Paul  side  of  the  river  was  in 
itself  an  invitation  to  his  strong,  striding  limbs,  while 
the  wine  of  Western  air  and  the  stimulus  of  Western 
energy  quickened  the  savage  outdoor  impulse  so  ready  to 
leap  in  his  blood.  The  song  of  mating  birds  quickened  it, 
too,  and  the  romance  of  the  river  gliding  through  the  gorge 
below,  and  the  beauty  of  the  cities  eying  each  other  like 
embattled  queens  from  headland  across  to  headland  and 
through  the  splendor  of  the  promise  of  a  gold-and-purple 
sunset. 

It  was  a  great  setting  for  great  thoughts,  inspiring  ideas 
80  large  that  when  he  reached  his  hotel  he  found  them  too 
big  to  reduce  easily  to  paper. 

"You  ask  me  what  love  is,  and  say  you  don't  know. 
I'm  more  daring  than  you  in  that  I  think  I  do  know.  I 
know  two  or  three  things  about  it,  even  if  I  don't  know  all. 

"For  one  thing,  I  know  that  no  one  can  do  more  than 

say  what  love  is  for  himself.    You  can't  say  what  it  is 

for  me,  or  isn't,  or  must  be,  or  ought  to  be.    That's  my 

secret.    I  can't  always  share  it,  or  at  any  rate  share  it  all, 

388 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

Since  love  u  the  flnor-T^  '^  T  »orrow  from  loving, 
mfinite  ^et^^^^^^J^^^  ^^*f^ 

arise  W  Se  f^^t  C^vS.^Tlr  "  '^"^'^ 
the  same  thing  back  wST^T.  ^f  ""*  ^^P*"*  '^^  «** 
that  special  |uiuS  to  ^^?    -^TT  no  one  else  haa 

according  to  tSe  pI^t*S«f  ^u^^^  '"m«  tf  "^^ 
tree  loved  the  oalm  ft<»~  JT       ""  "•     ""en  the  pine- 

^^  -e-a'^tSTto'^eX.*^  ^«  ^-  -> 

very  blossom  of  one's  soul  ft  m^t  T  I'^'-the 
ance  of  the  hibis<^  JT.  »      °T  ^^''^  ^^  ^  l««uri- 

it  is  w,^  n^cWlilt^J"'  """^  *"  Mn-itations;  but 

infinite  Pn>S^  t^^^^d  ST^  !°  ^*''' 
particular  end  T»,.  •!„  t  j  ^**  ■*"'*  >t  to  that 
^e^SsS totte ^  l««ls  son^ething  to  the  hibiscus 
it  gives  rSbe  oS^  Perf^?  if-"^  ^'^^  ^^  what 
eachofiFerswhatr^         "°°  ""  accomplished  when 

l<>^tarin^o£S°^^t1le'f-about 

little  mor*  Vtte  UtS^^.^  ""  yard-stick  for  the 
P-sible  and  "^Z^'J^  TcTT^^^ 
essence  that  makes  it  ft^l^  i    '°^^tlie  extraordmary 

measures  and  kS^tsL^LTv.'''**^.**  "^^^  '^ 
It  is  in  the  facr^^^t^I,*t^ty  °f  ^^  '«tum. 

its  own  -pen.tion^'lil-^^ri -- -£ 

389 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

The  one  point  on  wUch  I  can  fully  accept  your  Christian 
theology  i»  that  your  God  is  love.  Given  a  God  who  is 
Love  and  a  Love  that  is  God,  I  can  see  Him  as  worthy  to 
be  worshiped.  Call  Him,  then,  by  any  name  you  please— 
Jehovah,  Allah.  Krishna,  Christ— you  still  have  the 
Essence,  the  Thing.  Love  to  be  love  must  fed  itself 
infinite,  or  as  nearly  infinite  as  anything  human  can  be. 
When  I  can't  pour  it  out  in  that  way— ^hen  I  pause  to 
reflect  how  far  I  can  go,  or  reach  a  point  beyond  which 
I  see  that  1  cannot  go  any  further— I  do  not  truly  love." 

Having  written  this  much,  he  laid  down  his  pen  and 
considered.  He  had  said  nothing  personal,  unless  it  was 
by  implication.  It  was  only  after  long  meditation  that 
he  decided  to  leave  the  matter  there.  The  prime  question 
was  no  longer  as  to  whether  or  not  he  loved  her,  but  as  to 
whether  or  not  she  loved  him.  That  was  for  her  to  dedde. 
It  was  for  her  to  decide  without  his  urging  or  tormenting. 
He  began  to  feel  not  only  too  sensitive  on  the  subject, 
bu*.  too  proud  to  make  appeals  to  which  she  would  prob- 
ably listen  out  of  generosity.  Since  he  had  been  in  the 
wrong,  it  was  for  her  to  make  the  advances;  and  so  he 
ended  his  letter  and  posted  it. 

The  discussion  continued  throughout  the  correspcndence 
that  ensued  while  he  migrated  from  Minneapolis  to 
Milwaukee,  from  Milwaukee  to  Denver,  and  from  Denver 
to  Colorado  Springs.  It  was  partly  from  curiosity  of 
travel  that  he  zigzagged  in  this  way  across  i.he  cowntry, 
and  partly  to  make  it  plain  to  Lois  without  saying  it  that 
he  awaited  her  permission  to  come  home.  That  he  should 
be  obliged  to  return  one  day,  without  her  permission  if  not 
with  it,  was  a  matter  of  course,  but  it  would  make  the 
meeting  easier  if  she  summoned  him.  As  a  hint  that  she 
could  do  so  and  have  no  fear,  he  asked  her  in  a  postscript 
to  one  of  his  letters  to  tell  him,  when  she  next  wrote,  what 
was  happening  to  Rosie  Fay. 

To  this  she  replied  as  simply  and  straighticrwardly  as 
he  had  put  the  question,  imparting  all  that  Jim  Breen 
390 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

had  told  her  and  whatever  she  had  gleaned  for  herself, 
adding  ai  a  seeming  afterthought  in  the  letter  she  wrote 
next  day: 

"If  Rone  eoHld  bring  herself  to  marry  Jim  it  would  be 
the  happiest  of  all  solutions,  and  make  things  easier  for 
Claude.  I  think  she  will.  If  so,  it  won't  be  so  much 
because  her  hi«rt  will  have  been  caught  in  the  rebound  as 
that  the  y  e  Uttle  thing  is  mentally  and  emotionally 
exhausted,  i^  glad  to  creep  into  the  arms  of  any  strong, 
good  man  who  will  love  her  and  take  care  of  her.  Just 
to  be  able  to  do  that  much  wiU  be  enough  for  Jim.  I  see 
a  good  deal  of  him;  so  I  know.  Every  time  he  brings 
an  <wder  of  new  plants  we  have  a  Uttie  talk— always  about 
Roaie.  His  love  is  of  the  kind  you  wrote  about  the  other 
day;  it  has  no  yard-stick  for  the  little  more  or  the  little 
less  in  the  return.  Perhaps  men  can  love  like  that  morr 
easily  than  women  do.  Uncle  Sim  seemed  to  hint  ore 
evening  that  there  is  generally  a  selfish  strain  in  a  woriian's 
love,  in  that  what  it  gets  is  more  precious  to  it  than  what 
it  gives.    I  wonder." 

Thor  received  these  two  letters  together  on  returning 
to  Cdorado  Springs  from  a  day's  visit  to  that  high  wilder- 
ness in  which  John  Hay  sought  freedom  from  interruption 
in  writing  his  Life  of  Lincoln.  He  understood  fully  that 
Lois  was  deliberately  being  cruel  in  order  to  be  kind.  The 
very  spacing  out  of  her  information  over  two  separate 
days  was  meant  to  imprtss  him  and  at  the  same  time  to 
spare.  Things  would  be  easier  for  Claude,  she  said,  when 
she  meant  that  they  would  be  easier  for  him. 

But  for  him  it  was  a  matter  of  indifference.  That  is, 
it  was  the  same  kind  of  matter  of  indifference  that  pain 
becomes  in  a  limb  that  has  grown  benumbed.  For  reasons 
he  could  hardly  explain,  that  part  of  his  being  to  which 
Rosie  Fay  had  made  her  pathetic  appeal  couldn't  feel 
any  more.  It  was  like  something  atrophied  from  over- 
strain. There  was  the  impulse  to  suffer,  but  no  suffering. 
Moreover,  he  was  sure  that  though  these  nerves  might 
391 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

^knowledge  „  iJZ,     It  Si^^^^SI-^i'''"  "2 
Mvebeen.    A«  an  inddent  m  hb  life  it  h^  l««»»i..  J^ 

;^ty  Of  «p«i«L  .hi^^is  ru^cSi^s 

open  on  the  Uttle  table  he  had  SST'un^J^^v'^^ 
Other  tourists  bore  him  compw?  J^L^l^  '*^- 
groups,  smoking  and  driS^'  TS„^.*  "J 
Europe,  a  suarestion  ofr^  xTl-  ^  ««K«tion  of 

blocted  by  ti^?K  ^f^l^t^  "  "^  <^'™««'  '^s 
interplay  of  rSiSTK^hL^h^l?*^  """^  ^^  *  •Wft^* 

1  A^the  b3!  ists  re<.'sr«r^^^ 

a  shr«l  of  miJt  wilS«,rr^';r^  Perspective,  without 
thine  to  setTe  .Tn^?  ^*  .°^  mystery,  without  any- 
or  l^y^d  t£,^^'?^'2.^'^*  '^  ''bove  theL 
began'^to  thJ^r;p*?,JS^„:'ri,«rf  J"**  afternoon 
by  valleys,  glens  and^^^  t;?!  ^''  ""8^'  P^««=<J 
with  thri^^lt^^^^  *?"  *15^  '^  '"^'d 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

«!<»>«  "nd  iwathed  the  piljMcle.  and  ftiftn—^  .u    j 
pa«e.  «id  put  the  horiKTto&Swy^r^.^  "^ 

•"wned  for  aoc«  to  he  harK.^.  .«—  t  ""'""  nenelt 
man.  painted  *th  Chev^»  ^'  ''"^"'  ^  "^"^^^ 

of  color  into  cSter  wf^S^tn  L!l  *  "^  ^'°  s'**^- 
melting.  fading  ri^^d^„T  '°™.'  "^«'  ""'"sling. 
f^^pRSJ^ti^l"?  -Jta."  melting  agai^l. 

could  ever  happen  to  hi^  to^"  J*"^  •»  «-<» 

trut^ullr^^^  -  SlTSl^lj,'  *^*  ^  «" 
phaticallv  be«>i.«  t  ^  "".  "t^  """^  the  more  em- 

them  r  haven't  nX  Ef^  "/«^«-h«l  a  doubt  about 
enabled  me^  L"  *;m'T^,.'"^  ^^  "Ef  I  h""^^ 
given  you  my  best;  and  the  second  T^i  u  ^*'" 
t  without  any  restricti^*^*  S  j  ^l'^\^ 

rat"t:s.pi^Lrr£S  ^- ^^^- 

ever  it  wL.  I  ^  -SStX^K!^  "^i  d^!* 

-thin,  of  a  J^  r  ir  n^tSafS'^^tln 
«93 


i 


I 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

«mnot  enter  into  your  analysis;  but  I  do  know  that  there 
we  higher  and  lower  promptings  in  the  human  heart  and 
ttat  in  my  case  the  higher  turn  to  you.  As  compared  with 
iZLZ  Ti^  "\*^*  ship  compared  to  the  haveSTwScS 
t:^::^^^''-    ^«^P-«<-iforsomething.but 

-n^^*^  ^u  ^^'^'^  *°  '^''^  *"■*  «PI^  suspended  here. 
^1  ?i  ^  n««t  ""on^g  began  his  preparations  te 
gradually  tummg  homeward.  *-   i—  ux 


CHAPTER  XXX 

IT  was  Wmiam  Sweetapple,  the  gardener's  boy,  who  in-' 
1  formed  Lois  that  Claude  had  come  back,  throwing  the  in- 
f  oimation  casuaUy  over  his  shoulder  as  he  watered  the  lawn 
Seen  Mr.  Claude  to-day,  'm." 

'.Z°\''°-J'^.^'^'^'  Sweetapple."  Lois  contradicted. 
Mr.  Claude  is  m  the  West." 

"He  may  be  in  the  West  now.  'm,  but  he  wasn't  at 
twenty-five  mmutes  past  two  this  afternoon." 

Sudden  fear  brought  Lois  down  a  step  or  two  of  the 
portico,  over  the  Corinthian  pillars  of  which  roses  clam- 
bCTed  in  early  July  profusion.  In  white,  with  a  broad- 
bnmmed  Wmterhalter  hat  from  which  a  floating  green 
veU  hung  over  her  shoulders  and  down  her  back  her 
stoong.  dim  figure  seemed  to  have  gained  in  fulfihnent 
of  herself  even  in  the  weeks  that  Thor  had  been  away. 
Where  did  you  see  him,  Sweetapple  ?-<)r  think  you 
saw  him? 

Sweetapple  turned  the  nozzle  of  the  hose  so  as  to  de- 
velop a  crown  of  spray  with  which  he  bedewed  the  roses 
of  all  colors  grouped  in  a  great  central  bed.  "I  didn't 
think,  'm.    It  was  him." 

"WeU,  where?" 

"See  him  first  going  into  the  woods  leading  up  to  Duck 
Rock.  That  was  when  I  was  on  my  way  to  Lawyer 
Petleys. 

"Did  you  see  him  twice?" 

"See  him  again  as  I  comeback.  He  was  down  in  the 
road  by  that  time— looking  up  toward  old  man  Fay's— 
Hadley  B.  Hobson's  place  that  is  to  be.  Old  man  Fay's 
»9S 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 
KyS'mV^"  "°^  '^y-    ^-  ^  that. 

apple!"  '  ^°"  '"'"*  ^^«  *«=«  "Mistaken.  Sweet- 

hJXZ'Z  ^'-  '"•"  '"^^^PP^"  o^:  "^t  I  see 

she  had  been  ym^^l^^'^J'^''^^^'^^^ 
way.  a  high  growth  If'^^f^^X^r'af,:  ^°f^- 
P^'^rs  up  and  down  WmoughwTw  7^,^  ^'^  *^! 
year  thev  were  rplati™i„  f     ^  *^'    ■'^t  t'"^  ^^e  of 

County  St^^ThaS^S^;- rrif^  ^^-f^^  °^ 
mountains.    Lois  eninv«l  mT/  8°"«.t°  *«  seaside  or  the 

and  thTTranqSui^^  ^-^^  **!f '"^°°  ""^"^  "^""^^  her. 
hors  gave  ^St  to  ^l^"^  f  ^  '^^  P°<^  ""g^: 
in  thi  ^h^rS  the  r^^^/^^P'^yr^^tivity,  wMe 

created  by  the^ab^S  ofTthTwi5?ou^^  J^^^  1?"^ ^ 
mans  something  within  her  J,ri3^^^^,   ,    ^^*^- 

r  canno  h^'it  itTriJ"^  ""^  '^  '""*  *^- 
Now  I  feel-"S;  ly  IZd  f  ^pTit^  ^7"-"  "°'^- 
dispelled  can  i^ty  be  bn^ughTCc  c^  1-^°°  °"'' 
replace  it  by  realitv  Who*  ^^'  .  '®^  ^an  you 
stitute  for  k.^^o„  ^'  T  "?  '"""^^  ^"^  '=  »  ^b" 


396 


gone  dry.    I  hay. 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

^^^.,^r^^J  understand  what  Rosie  Pay  said 
""  n'^f.''?„:^J  talked  to  her  on  Duck  ^rS 


I  m  empty;  I've  given  aU  I  had  to 


give.'    It  was  less 


j,.j, ,  ^  vc  jjivBu  au  1  nad  to  give.'    It  wai 

httle  thing,  had  given  so  much  and  I  so  little.    Ai^d%^ 
my  supply  seems  to  be  exhausted 


It 


And  yet 


;  have 


"'"i^"-'.  -— ~~  "~  "c  cuutusiea.    u  must 
thm  and  shaUow  to  begin  with.    As  I  feel  atTi^^'iT 
WJUM  take  a  new  creation  to  replenSh  it  ^  * 

dear  Tw!^,*°  ""^  "'^^  ^°^  what  is  best  in  you, 
oear  Thor-well,  any  one  would  do  that  or  anvtWn,. 
You're  one  of  thc»e  who  have  nothing  but  thrff^ 

Z,l^».         i'  "'''?^  °°  *^«  ^^«  °f  the  ang^nd 

-mu  dear  mr;  I'm  sure  of  it.  They  may  rescue  ib 
botii-«ven  If  at  present  I  don't  see  how." 

Having  written  this  much,  she  paused  to  ask  what  she 
M  say  fimher.    Should  she  speak  of  Us  ^^ 

?wl  °-  ^"l^  '^  ^*^  ^  ^  ^y^  her  inSd 
that  he  was  on  his  way,  it  was  best  that  he  shouldl^ 
the  r^ponsibihty  of  his  own  return.  Should  sIk^ 
him  that  Sweetap;. .  thought  he  had  seen  Saude^  S 
It  would  alarm  him  without  doing  any  eood  If  PlniV*: 
was  back,  he  was  badc-besides  S^  l^^^tapJle^St 
te  wrong.    So  she  signed  her  name  with  her  usS^  3: 

l,owT».  w^''°"  ^^  ^  P"**^e  °n  the  stamp.  S^l 
to  be^  h""  T^^^°°  «>"  to  send.  She  didn't^^ 
wJTc  'i^-y^y  to  be  sincere.  Sincerity  during  tt^ 
^l^fT^^'  ^  ^T°^'  ^  «>«  °^  "hsession.  Ste 
^ta  Jm-  ^*^\*\'^'^  ^"^ei^"^  him  as  long  a^ 
resentment  hngered  m  her  heart,  and  yet  she  was  anxi™^ 
not  to  wound  him  more  than  she  could  hdp  W<Se 
hmi  she  wounded  hei^lf  more  deeply,  f^  in  s^  of 
everythmg  his  pain  was  hers.  ^  y'  "^  ^  spite  of 

Slowly  she  tore  the  letter  open  again    to  a  sunset 
chorus  of  birds  of  whose  song  diell^' £t  b^^ 


30 


397 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE  ANGELS 

flowers  and  ^Zs^d  ^a^  "T**  ''^^  world  of 

-1.  deep  sS-r rrXg  sJ  "'"S  rr^'  r 

the  voice  that  had  aavYm™.!,-  1 1^     ."       "*  it  was  also 

^d  on  that  vSLT^nhen'^hrhS'^*^**^ 
wrist.    The  dav  seemwl^^™  •  ^  *^  ^^sed  her 

«me  and  ^L^^ZdZT^^t  t^Tu  ^ 
but  the  voice  was  still  the^  &^LTTv-  ^^^  ^^• 
-treating,  with  an  in^^^' t^fZ^2ke^^- 
She  wrote  hurriedly  in  postscriDt^^^f  T^  ''^P" 
anything  1  could  do  for  y^  dSfTho.  f  '^  *^" 
used  to  feel  would  come  Ck  to  J?°'^;.^'^f  '^'^t  I 

but  will  it  Tj^Jr^""  ^"^  '^^^y  ^d  restoratioi- 

thiJ'tSnn^^^^.^^J-no-oresatisfiedwith 
aU  she  could  altow  h^f^  SI  "^""^v^*  ''  ^P'^^ 
have  pennitted  iL^tf^  ^^  Anything  more  would 
flitted  her  to  infeTan^dLT^^.  ^.  as  he  had  per- 
son. She  ended  thrn^dSn,>Y  '""^t.ha^e  "o  repeti- 
the  post.  ^  definitely,  getting  it  ready  for 

of  tts^'SL^n^  ^iJSlr^^eL^-;*^^  ^^"^ 
Having  come  3  to  ^^-a      ^^'  *^  ^'^  Claude 

Willia^  ^ta^  h^sSll"«  aSfd-S'  *  "^^  ^°« 
He  was  smiling,  but  asT^.;  distance,  smiling, 

oould  neither  L  nLlpL^^flT"  ™«^*.  "^^^  ^ 
could  neither  speak  ^K;,i%?S^^<^«  ""^ 
-but  a  specter^o  hasS^Li,  ^  ^^  *  "P^^t** 
that  of  thTspecS  TrfS  h!f  ^^-  ^  ^ety  smile  wts 
«id  yet  has^^         "^  "°  "^^^  *°  «»n«  <«t  of  heU. 

•98 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE  ANGELS 

it  would  have  b4«  tte  Z^Z't^!'  '^ ^o^ard 
dumb.  But  he  did  notto.,  w  \  ^"^^  ^  ^'^  and 
that  awful  smile  wWche^LJS  ^^^  '*°«*  ^^  smiled- 
nctusofpain.  iTst^^,  ri^^^V^'*  ^^-n -y 
turmng  the  comer  ofTe  h^  ^4^?^"  ""t"  ^«ht.  on 
of  the  rose-bed  at  his  left  S  ^^  "^^  ^'''"s 
this,  she  had  alwaj^  i,S!i„^'Lj*7«  ««<=Uy  like 

-^  astr^  ^"-^^S'ar^SS'^ta 
Shf^ij^^T^Tp^^f^^-ltiesatlast.    .-ciaudei" 

^teS;  rtTvL^^nSmttrs  tlr-^  *^ 

he  ^d.  in  a  voic«  which  mt^l^*^^  ^^  ^«  that 

She  remembered  afterward  fh=f  «.^       . 
hands  nor  exchanged  WTtu^^*  f  f^  '^"ther  shook 
but  at  the  rrSTAt^\T^,^T^  °^  ««««"«. 
Her  own  tone  was  S  stS  ^^T"  ^^l**"^  *°"ld: 

-^SSd^^o^S^^S'^IS^Sr^yinto 

head  and  look  at  h^i<^k  ^^f  .  ^,7°"ld  «ise  his 
'^as  to  open  his  ey«shi^tT\^*  "*•  "^  ^e  did 
yesterday/^         ^  ^"^y-  ^  ^e  replied.  "Got  back 

399 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

J^i, T'ul'^,^  "y  *"**  so  much  she  was  afaad 
to  say  that  she  hardly  knew  with  what  to  begin.  "  W^-t 
y«.  •  ^she  ventured,  timidly-"  wenm't  you^ving  a^ 

.  ^  ««7«- M  he  lay  b,  Jc  with  eyes  closed  again  was 
H^l^  ««^«  only  dimm^now  witSTf^ 
bitter-sweetness.    She  knew  it  was  like  asking  a  man  if 

^l^l^"^'^''"^^'^^-  Nevertheless, the 
ground  of  COTunon,  practical  things  was  the  only  one  to 

ti«  house  every  mght-with  no  one  in  it.    D^t^^ 

want  to  come  here.?"  ^ 

He  shook  his  head.    "No,  thanks.    Mrs.  Mages  wiU 

make  my  bed  and  give  me  breakfast.    That's  all  I  ne^ 

Get  the  rest  of  my  meals  in  town." 
"But  you'U-stay  to  dinner  now,  won't  you?" 
He  Mted  hmiself  up  in  his  chair  at  last,  his  face  taking 

on_.te  first  look  of  life.  "Thor  be  there'"  ^^^^^ 
know?'^'  °°"    ^"'^  ^^y~^  t^e  West.    Didn't  you 

1oo^;K?""^^-  "^^'  ^  **  ^-*?  Not 
thfZ^^^^^''■  :'Of«»««not.  He  went  to  attend 
hte^w^~°^"^^'"P°^-    He's  on  his  ^y 

"When  do  you  expect  him?" 
histtae/"'**""'*'    I 'J""'*  know  when.    He's  taking 

frJ°CorraSs'^n?-  '  "^•^-  ^^  '"*  '^'^^  ^^ 
He  dropped  back  into  the  chair  with  a  tired  sigh  of 
it      l^^i^^-    Il^taytodinner.    Thanks." 

^fZ.^7f  *-,f  J°  '*'*•  ^^8  °°  °^°^  q««»ti°ns  than 

she  comd  help  till  dinner  was  over  and  they  had  corned 

agam  on  the  portico,  so  that  he  might  ha^e  his^^ 

300 


THE   SIDE  OF   THE   ANGELS 

the  cool,  scented  evening  air.  She  was  more  at  ease 
with  him.  too,  now  that  she  could  no  longer  see  thp  T( 
fering  in  his  pinched,  emaciated  face  '^' 

"Claude,  why  did  you  come  home?" 

sav  "STt*^"  ?I^  fr°«  his  lips  just  long  enough  to 
say.    Because  I  couldn't  stay  awav  "  -o        s    <« 

"Why  couldn't  you?" 

"Because  I  couldn't." 
^^•t  you  think  it  would  have  been  well  to  make  the 

cojiXl^it  up?'?"""  °'  "^«  ^'  ^°^  -^-  I 
"  But  you  kept  it  up  for  a  while." 
"Not  aftei^-a:ter  I  heard." 
"Heard  about  Rosie?" 
He  made  an  inarticulate  sound  of  assent 

What  did  you  hear?" 
"I  heard— what  she  did." 
"How?    Who  told  you?" 
;'^t  chump  Billy  Cheever.    Wrote  me." 
How  did  he  know  it  had  anything  to  do  with  you?" 
Oh.  I  was  fool  enough  to  teU  him  about  her  once— 
and  so  he  caught  on  to  it.    Put  two  andl^^o  tSethn 
suppose,  when  he  heard  that-that-"  '"S^'^er-  I 

hra?d\Z^Ht  Sr'il^'  ^*  J^  =^-  ^^^  ^ 

He'Sd^lTtha^"^*'^-     "«^  ^'  ^^  °-  ^^■ 

"It   was   Jim.    He   saved   her."    As   the   statement 

^^  \"^^T%:.^^  continued,  "Claude,  what  did 
you  come  home /or  f" 

attnit^-^ot^rh?^ '''  '"'"*■  '-^^ 

I  ^•fZt.T:'^^  *°  ^p-  •-^-  ^y^-  "Cl-u'le. 


t  think  you  will." 


301: 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

•'Oh  yes,  I  gh«a." 
"What  makes  you  so  sure?" 
Because  I  am." 
^•?n  aot.    Or.  «ther.  if  I  «„  „^^.,  ^  ^^ 

^Sl^SZ't^  tiL^  "».  °-  -'^ch  there 
for  God's  Mtel  m^H?^  ^  '^y  *^  covering.  "Lois, 
thing.  Teuti  ^^  =*»  y««  mean?  You  know  some^ 
^.     leume.    She  hasn't  gone  away  with  ThorVllL 

^^.nmBreen.    She'/S'in  ^ *.^ tT)^' , ^j^ 

se^ruSaSirto^crS'^iL^^^iT^^^  ^ 

the  deck-chair  aeain  thourfTh.^*   '  J!    ^^  ''"''^  ^to 
feet  o„^  ^o^jXt'-C'^tZ^^^  ^ 

becaSSeSg'ofShlS?!'^*^  '»«'*"«^y 


"^e  h^t"^  through^'wi.?^^.'.  "^  ^~  ^ 

leaving  her^Sv^liT^""  ""5^^^- 
into  the  house  to  find  a  d^'and  foT^ffn  "IT  ^°T  8°^K 
respite  necessary  to  selS,S^  t  ^  ^^  ''^  '^"*«''' 
come  that  throb  of  h^T^r'  ,  T°  "^^  ■'— to  over- 

holding  her  W  Wh^!  "^  °^^?^  *»  walk  steadily, 
of  the%i^^S  ^th  T  f'^!*^'  *°°'  *°  "^t 
Claude.C-^^^^t^S^h'SS'^- 

30a  "™»UI, 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

to  prepare  him  by  desrae*  Tu.  t  ^  . 
>n8ly  passed  ovJl^^'^^J'^,,^^^  it  had  seem- 
«ge.  As  she  mounted  tte  ^SLTJ^*"?  *°  *«  °"t- 
she  repeated  her  own  f<Cuir^'^l*'"V°  ''*'  "«» 
?»dw.n  thought  cut  be/^^'.  ^fi  '^'>''  *•■'«' 
been  neither  weU  thought^'no,  w  ^  *£*  '"^  ^"^  had 
tion  had  been  oveChSZ*  pj^t^'  ^'  *^*  '^"P*- 
seemed  secondary  that  TW*^.,  JT  **  "^^ant  Jt  had 

lust«y  of  the  episode  thS^e  diT^r^"^."''  '^ 
t  Jch  an  action  possible  M«^  S  .^'  ""^  ^°^eht 
«he  saw  that  so^apnallC^^  ^'er  bef^ 

of  the  litUe  c«at4  S^va^f '  ^T  *'«'  P°^'°n 
had  been  going  oTdW  t*^^  P'^l  ""d  that  it 
apparently  so  peaceftHLd^TC^ ':?*?'  '"^  '^ 
fool's  paradise.    It  was  n^t  tm  h.T^-,^  ^"^^  "  her 
Thor  had  come  to  h«  in^.^^w  ^  '^'  **  ^k'''  that 
twitter  of  birfs  and  ^edZ'^'^J"^  "^^  *e 
accompanying  those  haStS  5^^°'^!^  *'*^"^ 
beheve.    She  herself  had  be^fef,!^    ^  ''^  ^««-  to 
jng  thc,t  he  could  love  her-^Tt  ?^h       "'"*  ,^^"  ^  «^«»»- 
her,  there  was  nothSgTt'aul  hi  ft,T ^"'^  *° ^^  ^o^ 
been  the  more  falsefor  ?he  ^It^tw  ^°^^-    »«  had 
he  had  been  siac^     il  wl!^"  J^*-  ?«  far  as  he  went, 
tri<*ed  her.    L^Tthan  ^rtt^-  ^-""^^^ty  that  had 
he  had  stamm^  S^  f^I*fS  ^"?  '"^  ^V  "hen 
It  possible  to  pardon  hiiT  ^P^anations  did  she  feel 

But  there  was  somethiie  else  M«w  v  u  , 
could  Jbwn;.  in  his  orp3  ♦  1  ,  '  "^  *he  chose,  she 
betmy  anything  ShSol?  °^  "^^  ^^""^^  "^^^^ 
the  emphasis  aLi Uy iS  oJthl''"''^'?.'^'  '°  throw 
would  come  out.  It  waTTil.?.,  !^'  ^",''  ^""^  ''hole  story 
hands-,  key  that  So^ld  S'ock  IS'fh^i'^  T^  '"^  "2 
were  her  terror.  She  was  stiU  i^^T  "?y^tenes  which 
"Sing  it  after  she  h«l^^  '"^'"'*'  ''°''«^er,  as  to 
wardrobe,  thrown  it  ov^^^  ^  ^  opera-cloak  from  a 
stai«  agaiT^         *  ^^  shoulders,  and  gone  down- 

303 


THE   SIDP,  OF  THE   ANGELS 

She  found  Claude  as  she  had  left  him— astnde  on  the 
deck-chair,  his  face  in  his  hands,  the  burning  end  of  the 
cigar  that  protruded  between  his  fingers  making  a  point 
of  light.  The  abject  attitude  moved  her  to  pity  in  spite 
of  everything.  She  herself  remained  standing,  her  tall 
figure  thrown  into  dim  relief  between  two  of  the  white 
Corinthian  pillars  of  the  portico.  By  standing,  it  seemed 
to  her  obscurely,  she  could  more  easily  escape  if  any  such 
awful  revelation  as  she  was  afraid  of  were  to  spring  on  her 
against  her  will.  She  could  almost  feel  it  waiting  for  her 
in  the  depths  of  the  heavy-scented  darkness. 

For  the  minute,  however,  the  folly  of  Claude's  return 
was  the  matter  immediately  to  be  dealt  with;  to  get  him 
to  go  away  again  was  the  end  to  be  attained.  It  was  with 
this  in  view,  as  well  as  with  a  measure  of  compassion,  that 
she  said: 

"You  poor  Claude!  You  havt  been  through  things, 
haven't  you?" 

The  answer  came  laconically:  "Been  in  hell." 

"Yes,  that's  what  I  thought,"  she  agreed,  simply.  "I 
thought  it  the  instant  you  came  round  the  comer  this 
afternoon.    But  why?    For  what  reason— exactly?" 

He  lifted  his  haunted  face,  stammering  out  his  recital 
in  a  way  that  reminded  her  of  Thor.  She  could  see  that 
he  had  profited  by  his  mistake  of  a  few  minutes  earlier, 
and  that  just  as  Thor  had  tried  to  tell  Claude's  story  with- 
out involving  his  own,  so  Claude  was  endeavoring  to 
sppje  her  by  doing  the  same  thing.  Being  able  to  supply 
the  blanks  more  accurately  now  than  on  the  former 
occasion,  she  found  a  kind  of  poignant,  torturing  amuse- 
ment in  fitting  her  knowledge  in. 

He  began  with  his  first  meeting  with  Rosie,  describing 
the  scene.  He  had  not  taken  the  adventure  seriously,  not 
any  more  than  he  had  taken  a  dozen  similar.  Girls  like 
that  could  generally  be  thrown  off  as  easily  as  they  were 
taken  on,  and  they  bore  you  no  ill-will  for  the  change. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  a  new  flirtation  generally  began  wherv 
304 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

the  old  one  ended,  which  made  pwt  of  the  fan  for  tho 
JiriMfortheman.  He  wm  „«kmg  of  «.pectS,l7rirS 
1*™  »o  vmderBUnd-vilkge  girta.  Aop  girU.  and  oSS 
of  the  h  gher  wage-eanung  variety,  who  didn't  mind  show- 

UuTt^e^'^d^.'^'T  '"^^  "^"^  •"<*  '^'^'^  ^■ 
If  vf.f  „  »  ]•  ""?  "*"  "°  ""»*  '«»•  it  «  the  end. 

flz^?  '  "f^  to  him  that  Rode  would  be  different 

from  other,  of  the  class,  or  that  she  would  take  in  Sy 
ean»«t  what  was  no  more  than  play  for  him 

d™r^.!^  Y  made  this  discovery  he  had  tried  to  with- 

to  pledge  himself  he  grew  incoherent,  as  also  over  the  si™ 
which  caused  him  to  suspect  that  Rosie  was  playine  fwt 

who  was  m  love  with  her"  and  who  was  "ready  d  out 
up  money"  threw  her  back  on  memories  o7w»  u^eS 
f^T  t"'*™^^  '^^  °"  *e  evenings  after  the  return 
trom  the  honeymoon.  It  was  with  a  sense  of  the  key 
shppmg  mto  the  lock  that  she  said:  ^ 

"Aiid  that  made  you  jealous?" 
"As  the  devil.    It  was  because  it  did  that  I  knew  I 
couWn  t  give  her  up-that  I'd  never  let  her  go." 

There  was  smcere  curiosity  in  her  tone  as  she  asked  the 
question,  "But.  Claude,  why  did  you ?"  ^^ 

"Because  slie  lied  to  me." 
"Oh I    And  had  you  never  lied  to  her>" 
th,W  '"1^"'^  something  about  that  not 'being  the  same 
thmg.       She  swore  to  me  that  there'd  never  been  any 
put-up  job  between  her  and— and— "  ^ 

.™!h  l!^''^.,-'^  °"*-    "Th^the  other  person."    She 
tS"  ^^  ^*^^  "^  '*  *'™<^-     "^^  ^^ 

.J^l  "^?  5^  impatient,  circular  movement  of  his  head, 
^though  his  coUar  chafed  him,  with  which  she  was 

•^rT'.,     .!  7^  ^^^^^  *™^  ^  °^er  to  use  tact. 

Oh,  I  don  t  know.    There  was-theie  was  somethine 

30S  ^ 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 
Whateyw  it  wu,  the  denied  it,  when  aU  the  wUle  tlwr 


She  felt  obliged  fuUy  to  turn  the  k^y.    She  knew  how 

keepitUdc.    "They  were  what.  Clmude?" 
They  were  trying  to  catch  me  in  a  trap." 

Ur^Zf*^  '?'  ^.°°r  ^*^  ^  '^  °'  mysterie.  opening, 
but  only  to  make  disclosures  dimmer  and  more  myiS 
•tiU.  The  postponement  of  dreadful  certainties  eniAled 
to.  however,  to  say  with  some  slight  relief,  "But  thia- 

l^J^fu"*^  *^*^'*  •^^  '^  ^O^  fond  <rf  her 
himself  if  he— if  he  gave  her  up  to  you  " 

J«l,?T*^i^  '"^«'?'  '•^'^  ^'°  h"  hands,  muttering 
toward  the  floor:  "Oh,  I  don't  know.  I  don't  w^ 
now.  Anyhow,  she  lied  to  me.  and  "-he  lifted  his  has- 
^rdey«  again-'-and  I  jumped  at  it.  I  saw  the  ^y 
out-and  I  jumped  at  it.  I  told  h«--I  told  her-I'd  Jo 
and  marry  some  one  else."  " 

"Did  you  mean  Elsie  Darling?" 

He  nodded  speediles^l/. 
1..?  '^  to  fnie  back  again  to  the  point  which  her  anger 
had  caused  her  to  miss  that  she  went  forwarti  and  laid 
her  hand  oa  his  shoulder  kindly.  "  I  would,  Claude  if  I 
were  you,  she  said,  in  a  matter-of-fact  voice.  "She'd 
make  you  a  good  wife." 

"No  "ne  will  niake  me  a  good  wife  now,"  he  said 
hoarsely.  "  I  m  gomg  to  marr-^  Rosie.  I'U  marry  her  if 
itpute  mem  the  gutter.    I'll  many  her  if  I  n^have  a 

She  went  back  to  her  place  between  the  pillars,  leaning 
agamst   one  of  them.    "But.   Claude."   dT^S^ 
wou^d  that  do  any  good?    Would  it  make  either  of  yoJ 
happy,  after  aU  that's  been  said  and  done  ?" 

*W    T°^.*° 'T**'-     "I  don't  care  anything  about 
that.    I've  got  to  do  it."  /       s        "u 

';You  haven't  got  to  do  it  if  Rosie  doesn't  want  it." 
It  s  got  nothmg  to  do  with  her." 
306 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

wiS^hiT'^^^i^SJ^t.    ■•Nothin.tod. 

He  tried  to  explain  furtker.    He  hmA  nr*  ~.-     _.i 
^  iMudcto  .tone  for  T^^l  J^Ld tn^ 

5:rrhL'hin.,5!-Sr^^Lirhir  '•• 

S^oS^hif  '**'*  ^"^  cha«tisen,ent^ulS: 

Sfs  thS  .K.  ^"«,^*  y*""^  ^  ^^'^  hounding^^f 
i-ois  thought  that  traveline  in  the  W«it  «ro.  u  . 

woma  sacnfioe  both  to  regain  a  measure  of  his  self-resoect 

s^t^dr='in'ti"  "^r  -pp-^<^^t 

longer  to  tile  n«W^^  m  maxrymg  hrni,  but  that  was  no 

Shave  b2±ft°  ^:  ■  ^'^^°8  ^''^  Claude  who 
307 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

"I'm  a  gentlemen— what?"  he  asked,  raising  his  white 
face  pitifuUy.     "Imustactlikeagentlemen-whatr 
^^Yes,  but  if  it's  too  late,  Claude-for  that  particular 

']0h,  but  it  isn't— it  won't  be— not  when  she  sees  me  " 
It  might  be;  and  if  she  doesn't  want  it,  Claude   I 
don  t  see  why  you — " 

"You  don't  see  why  because  you're  not  me.  If  you 
were,  you  would.  A  woman  hasn't  a  man's  sense  of 
honor,  anyhow." 

^   She  let  this  pass  with  an  inward  smile  in  order  to  say 
But,  Claude,  suppose  you  can't  do  it?" 
He   twisted   his   neck,    with   his   customary   chafing 
irntated  movement.    "I'll  do  it— or  croak." 
"Oh,  but  that's  nonsense!" 

"To  you— not  to  me.  You  haven't  been  through  the 
mill  that  I  ve  been  ground  up  in.  You  don't  know  what 
It  IS  to  have  been  bom— bom  a  gentleman— and  to  have 
blasted  yourself  into  human  remains.  That's  what  I  am 
now— not  a  man— to  say  nothing  of  a  gentleman— just 
human  remains— too  awful  to  look  at." 

She  tried  to  reason  with  him.  "But,  Claude  you 
mustn't  exaggerate  things  or  put  the  punishment  out  of 
proportion  to  the  crime.  Admitting  that  what  you  did 
to  Roste  was  dishonorable — ^brutal,  if  you  like—" 

"Oh,  it  isn't  that.  It's  what  I  did  to  myself.  Can't 
you  see?" 

She  saw,  but  not  with  the  intensity  of  Claude  himself 
Sittmg  down  at  last,  she  let  him  talk  again.  He  had  felt 
SOTiething  shattered  in  him,  so  he  said,  at  the  very  minute 
when  he  had  turned  to  leave  the  cucumber-house  on  the 
day  of  the  final  rapture.  He  knew  already  that  he  was  a 
cad,  and  that  he  was  doing  what  only  a  cad  would  have 
done;  but  he  had  expected  the  remorse  to  pass.  He  had 
known  himself  for  a  cad  on  other  occasions,  and  yet  had 
outlived  the  sense  of  shame.  That  he  should  outKve  it 
agam  he  had  taken  for  g  v-.nted,  though  he  knew  that  this 
308 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

S2>'thrSSL^:'*K*°"*^"'"«-    H«  was  willing 

of  SvX  T  ?  ""^  V  '  ^""^  ^  ''^'^  h^mcL^: 
W  f„  ,r  '^'.u  ^"^"^  '*  °°t  unreasonable  to  exoect 
her  to  share  the  responsibility  for  what  had  o^eS! 

follow  his  ex^pie  in  marrying  some  one  elS!^  ^ 

tw  u    u       .,,     „°PP°'^"°>'y  t°  have  fully  come     "T 

KhtaSe  "''^^'"  '^  J'^  ^-—^  ^"'-ly 
"Oh,  rot!" 

distaste  for  diversion  having  declared  itiw^fr^tt  H 
My  thmj  to  be  dofic  ™  to  tm  hi,  (,«»  euo».S 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

deem  himself.  Redemption  had  become  for  him  a  need 
more  urgent  than  food,  more  \ital  than  life.  Though  he 
didn't  use  the  word,  though  his  terms  were  simple  and 
boyish  and  slangy,  Lois  could  see  that  his  stress  was  that 
which  sent  pilgrims  to  the  Holy  Sepulcher,  and  drove 
Judas  to  go  and  hang  himself.  Redemption  lay  in 
marrying  Rosie,  and  restoring  his  honor,  and  bringing  the 
Claude  who  might  have  been  back  to  life.  Indeed,  it  was 
difficult  to  tell  at  times  which  of  the  two  was  slain— 
whether  the  Claude  who  might  have  been,  or  the  other 
Claude— so  distraught  and  involved  were  his  appeals. 
But  beyond  marrying  Rosie  and  keeping  his  word— being 
a  gentleman,  as  he  expi-essed  it— his  outlook  didn't 
extend.  "Any  damn  thing  that  liked  could  happen" 
when  that  atoning  act  had  been  accomplished. 

There  were  so  many  r^titions  in  his  turns  of  thought 
that  Lois  ended  by  following  them  no  more  than  listlessly. 
Not  that  she  had  ceased  to  be  interested,  but  her  mind  was 
occupied  with  other  phases  of  the  drama.  She  remem- 
bered, what  she  had  so  often  heard,  that  in  the  Master- 
mans  there  was  this  extraordinary  strain  of  idealism  of 
which  no  one  could  foresee  the  turn  it  would  take.  She 
knew  the  traditions  of  the  great-grandfather  whose  heart 
had  broken  on  findine  that  America  was  not  the  regen- 
erated land  he  hoped  for.  Tales  were  still  current  in  the 
village  of  old  Dr.  Masterman,  his  son,  who  through  sheer 
confidence  in  his  fellow-men  never  paid  any  one  he  owed 
and  never  collected  money  from  any  one  who  owed  it  to 
him.  Archie  Masterman,  in  the  next  generation,  was 
supposed  to  have  taken  the  altruistic  tendency  by  the 
throat  in  himself  and  choked  it  down;  but  Unde  Sim 
was  a  byword  of  eccentric  goodness  throughout  the 
countryside.  Now  the  impulse  was  manifest  in  Claude, 
in  this  revulsion  against  his  own  failure,  in  this  marred 
and  broken  vision  of  a  Something  to  which  he  had  not 
been  true.  And  as  for  Thor  .  . . 
310 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

But  here  she  was  tortured  and  frightened.    Who  knew 
wtat  this  strange  inheritance  might  be  working  in  him? 
Who  could  teU  how  big  and  tender  and  transcending  it 
might  become  ?    That  it  would  be  transcending  and  tender 
and  big  was  certain.    If  poor,  frivolous,  futile  Claude 
could  feel  hke  this,  could  feel  that  he  must  I'edeem  his  soul 
though  "^y  damn  thing  that  liked"  should  happen  as  the 
PTKX  of  his  redemption,  in  Thor  the  yearning  would 
outflank  her  .^ge.    Might  not  the  secret  of  secrets  be  in 
that?    Might  not  that  which  she  had  been  seeing  as 
treachery  to  herself  be  no  more  than  a  conflict  of  aspira- 
tions?   If  Claude,  with  his  blurred  distortion  of  the  di- 
vine m  him,  served  no  other  purpose,  he  at  least  threw  a 
hght  on  Thor.    Thor,  too,  was  a  Masterman.    Thor  too 
was  bom  to  the  vision— to  the  longing  after  the  nationally 
perfect  that  had  become  legendary  since  the  time  of  the 
great-grandfather--to  the  sweet,  neighborly  affection  that 
ran  through  all  the  tales  of  that  man's  son— to  the  sturdy 
righteousness  of  Unde  Sim— to  the  standards  of  honor 
from  which  poor  Claude  had  fallen  as  angels  fall— and  to 
God  only  knew  what  high  promptings  strangled  and 
vitiated  m  his  father.    Thor  was  heir  to  it  all,  with 
something  of  his  own  to  boot,  something  strong,  something 
patient,  something  laborious  and  loyal,  something  long- 
suffermg  and  winning  and  meek,  that  might  have  marked 
the  leader  of  a  rebeUious  people  or  a  pagan,  skeptic  Christ. 
Her  mmd  was  so  full  of  this  ideal  of  the  man  against 
whom— and  also  for  whom— her  heart  was  hot  that  she 
made  no  effort  to  detain  Claude  when,  after  long  silence, 
he  picked  up  his  hat  and  slipped  away  into  the  darkness.' 


m 


'    m 


CHAPTER  XXXI 


'1 


LJE  slipped  away  into  the  darkness,  but  only  to  do 
i  1  what  he  had  done  on  the  previous  evening  ufter 
making  arrangements  with  old  Maggs.  He  climbed  the 
hiU  north  of  the  pond,  not  so  much  in  the  hope  of  seeing 
Rosie  or  any  one  else,  as  to  haunt  the  scenes  so  closely 
associated  with  his  spiritual  downfall. 

It  was  a  languorous,  luscious  night,  with  the  scent  of 
new-mown  hay  mingling  with  that  of  gardens.  If  there 
was  any  breeze  it  was  lightly  from  the  east,  bringing 
that  mitigation  of  the  heat  traditional  to  the  week  fol- 
lowmg  Independence  Day.  As  there  was  no  moon,  the 
stars  had  their  full  midsummer  intensity,  the  Scorpion 
trailing  hotly  on  the  southern  horizon,  with  Antares 
throwing  out  a  fire  like  the  red  rays  in  a  diamond.  Be- 
neath it  the  city  flung  up  a  yellow  glow  that  might  have 
been  the  smoke  of  a  distant  conflagration,  while  from  the 
hilltop  the  suburbs  were  a-sparkle.  As,  standing  in  the 
road,  Claude  looked  through  the  open  gateway  down 
over  the  slope  of  land,  the  hothouse  roofs  and  the  dis- 
tant levels  of  the  pond  gleamed  with  a  faint,  ghostly 
radiance  like  the  sheen  of  andent  tarnished  crystal. 

The  house  was  dark.  It  was  dark  and  dead.  It  was 
dark  and  dead  and  haunted.  Everything  was  haunted- 
everything  was  dark.  Even  the  furnace  chimney  loom- 
ing straight  and  black  against  the  stars  was  plumeless. 
But  m  the  silence  and  stiUness  there  was  something  that 
drew  him  on.  He  crossed  the  road  and  went  a  few  paces 
w.thm  the  gate.  He  hi«i  not  ventured  so  far  on  the 
previous  evening,  and  during  the  day  he  had  dared  no 
3" 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

more  than  to  look  upward  from  the  boulevard  below  after 
that  pilgrimage  to  Duck  Rock  on  which  William  Sweet- 
apple  had  surprised  him.  Now  in  the  darkness  and 
quietness  he  stood,  not  searching  so  much  as  dreaming 
He  was  dreaming  of  Rosie,  dreaming  of  her  with  a  kind  of 
cheer.  After  all,  he  would  be  bringing  joy  to  her  as  well 
as  gettmg  peace  of  spirit  for  himself.  It  wouldn't  be  so 
hard.  She  would  meet  him  as  she  used  to  meet  him  here 
as  she  used  to  let  hun  come  and  visit  her,  and  then  the 
atonement  would  be  made.  The  process  would  be  simple, 
and  he  should  become  a  man  again. 

The  conviction  was  so  sweet  that  he  lingered  to  enjoy 
It,  penetratmg  a  few  steps  farther  into  the  spacious  dim- 
ness of  the  yard.  It  was  the  first  minute  of  inward  ease 
he  had  known  since  he  had  turned  his  back  on  it.  Now 
aiat  he  was  once  more  on  the  spot,  the  Claude  who  was  a 
devil-of-a-fellow,  something  of  a  sport,  but  a  decent  chap 
aJl  the  same,  began  again  to  run  with  red  blood  where 
there  had  been  nothing  but  a  whining,  shriveling  apostate 
It  was  like  rejuvenescence,  like  a  re-creation. 

Suddenly  something  moved.  It  moved  at  first  in  the 
shadow  of  the  house,  and  then  out  in  the  starlit  spaces 
It  moved  stealthily  and  creepily  and  with  a  grotesque 
swiftness.  Its  action  seemed  irregular  and  uncertain 
hke  that  of  some  night-marauding  animal,  till  Claude  per- 
ceived that  it  was  stalking  him.  He  waited  long  enough 
to  get  a  view  that  was  almost  clear  of  a  crouching  attitude 
the  crouching  attitude  of  a  beast  when  it  means  to  sprine 
whereupon  he  tuniisd  and  fled. 

That  is,  he  turned  and  walked  away  swiftly.  He  would 
have  run  had  it  not  been  for  his  renascent  self-respect 
He  couldn't  bring  himself  to  run  frxjm  poor  old  Fay  even 
though  his  nerves  were  tingling.  "He  tried  to  reassure 
hmiself  by  saying  that  it  was  no  more  than  a  repetition 
of  that  dogging  to  which  he  had  been  subjected  before 
and  that  it  would  discontinue  once  he  w  s  off  the  premises. 
But  when  he  turned  to  glance  over  his  shoulder  it  seemed 
^1  313 


1i! 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

re^eS,%ti!rve'<^^o^«ded after hi».    T^, 

startlmgofsi<imMrin=2J^      XT        .themselves  to  the 

with  renewed  tap,^*^^°!l.^  ^/J^-J^.  "'ways 
track  him  down.  1^^  ^JL^T^ u^'^-  *^8  ^ 
own  driveway,  he  bX^f  i?j^  *^f.  "^^^'y  °f  thw 
which  was  no^t  s^^  tiSe^^^^i*^  "^^^^  ^ 
tection  of  the  door.  ^  ""  ''^  reached  the  relative  pro- 

do  it  promptly.    Wkh  s^l^f..      "l    *  "^  ^^'^^^  *<> 
sense  of  being  hLea^ltr?^^^^'*  ^"^^  and  the 

was  a  devilif-aSl^iTir  "^'  *^  ^'^"''«  ^h" 
Waiting  after  bi^L^!^,  >"  *  ^ ^ir  way  to  be  reborn. 

he  took'his  way  ^^LS^^Jr^  ^°-^^  ^  be  discreet. 

Of  hL''stiid\?nS%rr  ^  T°-  -  •— 

woidd  be  no  mo^  sIuiii^J^^„  ^  cwcealments.    There 
hotho,«e.  or  h2itS^^o^^'''^°^^^*^°f«'e 

walkupkndav?wSf-t„??J°^*^.°^-    »«  would 
-oH^e.    ^eiShi^;-^---- 

aS4S::£t'h?rci^'^ttr  ^  ^ 

hTs^Jd"stS^SI.->.^jS£rhT^ 

himself,  a  gash  in  his  o^^J^^  "i^a  P-h  !^tlun, 
d«am  of  a  reconstituted  self  ^wL  «  gash  m  the 
father  had  refused  SrreS;al  ^  ^^  "^"^l  '^'  ^ 
some  time  in  the  near^^~  p  '"^  "^"^  *at  at 

but  he  had  not  ^p^  th^  ^!^  ^^  have  to  go; 
demoralizaUon  X^^^*  «nmedmte  signs  of  compl^ 
concerted  wS!  ^*  ^^  '^  ^^ere  they  dis- 

314 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE  ANGELS 

grown.    Vetch,  burl^  td  11^  fantastically  over- 
not  with  the  pETanTlS^fTe  Tp^^ 

to  be  on  the  soot     Hp  ihlTT?  j         '''^°  '^  *  "ght 
^^o.^ehoth^,t^?irto"X^r^J- 

tiU  the  fern-tree  was  deSd  i^X  T'    ^'t"'^^  P^"^ 
Hello,  Claude!" 

315 


i  i 


THE   SIDE  OF  TJE   ANGELS 

which  had  come  back,  not  with  ita  native  spontaneity,  but 
danngly  and  aggressively,  as  a  brave  man  smiles  at  a  foe 
Claude  resented  the  attitude;  he  resented  the  smile-  he 
resented  the  use  of  his  Christian  name;  but  he  was  re- 
solved  to  be  diplomatic.  He  went  forward  a  few  steps 
farther  still,  but  m  spite  of  himself  his  voice  trembled 
when  he  spoke.     "Mr.  Pay  'round?" 

Jim  answered  nonchalanUy.  "No;  gone  to  town  Want 
a  good  fern-tree,  Claude?  Two  or  three  corkera  here 
Look  at  that  one,  now.  Get  it  cheap,  too.  Dandv  in  the 
comer  of  a  big  room." 

Sickeningly  aware  of  his  feebleness  in  contrast  with  this 
ea^,  honest  vigor,  Claude  made  an  effort  to  be  manly 
and  matter-of-fact.    "  Mr.  Pay  selling  off?" 

"Not  exactly  selling  off.  Fixed  things  up  with  father. 
Fathers  taken  the  stock,  and  Mr.  Pay's  going  in  with 
hmi.  Dicto  t  want  this  old  place  any  longer."  Jim  con- 
tmued,  loftily.  "Kind  o'  clung  to  it  because  he'd  put 
money  mto  it,  like.  Money-eater;  that's  what  it  was 
Make  more  m  a  year  with  father  than  he  would  in  this 
^d  rockery  in  ten.  Hadley  B.  Hobson's  bought  the  place 
Know  that,  don't  you?  Come  to  think  of  it,  it  was  your 
old  man  who  owned  it.  Well,  it's  Hadley  B.  Hobson's 
now— or  will  be  the  day  after  to-morrow.  Have  a  sweU 
residence  here.  Good  enough  for  that,  but  too  small  for  a 
plant  like  Mr.  Fay's."  ^^ 

Claude  did  his  best  to  digest  such  details  in  this  informa- 

taon  M  were  new  to  him  while  he  nerved  himself  to  say 

Is  Miss  Fay  a-about  ?"  ' 

Jim  nodded  toward  the  blank  windows  of  the  house. 

Moved.    Better  take  a  fern-tree,  Claude.    Won't  get  a 

bargain  hke  this,  not  if  every  florist  in  the  town  goes 

bankrupt.    This  one's  a  peach,  and  yet  you'll  caU  it  a 

scream  compared  to  the  one  I've  got  inside.    Bring  it  out 

M  as  you  can  get  a  squint  at  it.    Can't  wait,  can-'t  you? 

WeU.solong!    Got  to  finish  my  job.    Back,  Maud,  tock! 

Any  time  you  do  want  a  fern-tree,  Claude—" 

316 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 
awved  to^       ^  '»«ot  to  know  where  the  Fays  have 

"iteL^^fthXiSi.?^-  "^'^'  -  ^-'^'- 

What  part  of  town?" 
^m.  turned  at  the  hothouse  door.    "Oh.  a  ve^r  rn'oe 
"But  that's  not  telling  me." 

anybody  else.    H  old^  ^^  ^^t^^^^""  won't  ask 
nule  of  the  place—"  ^         *°  ^  y°"  within  a 

Claude  decided  to  be  confidential     -nu 
is.;^/£'*'^^r  K^^^       H'sasfarashe 

^^SS/s^S'oJ&r.ri*  ^r «» ^«^- 

Jkw.    "  If  he  think^"  to  get  his  information  some- 

give  him  a  darned  wide  h.»*ut^'        ^  "as  you  I'd 

"fS<^/^^-^-^"^iS^'°"" 

don't  STo^iTS^vS^^Sf^-'  ?^^'^-    «  3^- 

Claude  was  beside^^  ^.h**!,^*  six  mo„th^., 

good  God.  man?rv^  ^fh,T^  «asperation.    "But. 

don't  you  s^  -^  ve  come  back  to  many  Rosie!    Now 

ovi'"th^i°XJt^:Zr'^  ""^"^  ''°-'  ^t-*ng 

Clear  out.  aU  ^^^  °^  ^^"^  ^  old  man  Fay. 
317 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

weU,  you  can't."  "  ^**  marrying  Rode- 

thS^.^  aggx^ve.    "If  thaf.  becu«  you 

on-*,  t'    B*  a  {^ r^T*  "^"^  "^  *^*  «^  I'« 
very  good  reason"  '  ^^^  you.  and  for  « 

te^^'^^'  ^''"'^  '^--'^.  -th  hi.  best  at-, 
tha?-!t£'=2^^'^"— <l<^tic.    -ne  reason 

-other  Rosie  altogether  tittS^ght^J  'iS  ;:„S 

The  Rosie  you  knew,  Claude  was  »n  i;™«  j  u- 
as  I  held  her  in  my  arm^  whaeW^-  ^/T"  *"'*  ^^^ 
ashore.  She  was  eonT^-^hr  J^i  ^'"^  ^'^^  ^^^  "s 
was  as  much  iXa^  as  Se^Xl^x.  "".*  °*  ''*'•  ^he 
eyes  were  shut  aS^lyXt^"^^*^^-  Her 
see  the  fringe  of  a  flo^  hSrSfH'  'T  ^  ^"^  "^^^^ 
ing.    AndLmoSSTyrw'rlrd^^'^T 

Si^^y'^^trs-S*?^^^-^ 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGE 

^^^^^"^1'''^.^^^'^  •^'^d  her 


LS 

lips 


compunction.  ^'       *  *^  *°"*  '»°^«d  Jin>  to 

thJS  2S^  !2u^e  rtsr  arth'"  *"^  *°  "'^'' 

siating  from  his  obiect"^™  *  ^f  ^^*  '™e  de- 

you  uunk  I  m  gomg  to  run  away—" 


ago  about  the  place  being  too 


319 


smnH 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

My  Lord  I  you  d  think  no  one  ever  h.d  hothott«bdfo« 
•nd  never  would  again.  You'd  think  it  wa.  the  «^^ 
the  world  to  hear  him  talk.  You'd  die  laughS«  The 
feUow  he'd  like  to  put  it  over  on  is  your  old  i^"  (^ 
me  a  mouthful  about  him  three  or  four  timet  a  dav-^ 

atfem.  Lucky  he's  in  Europe.  But  I'U  catei  him  do^ 
don't  you  fret:  <«d  I'U  calm  down  Matt,  once  I  J^aS 
Let  me  have  two  months-let  me  have  a  m<mth(-and 
1  Uhave  em  commg  to  you  like  a  gnty  squir«l  comes  for 

Out  in  the  roadway  Claude  made  a  last  effort  to  react 
agamst  his  humiliation,  doing  it  almost  tearfuUy.    "But 

-^  T"  J™'  ^>  «°*  *°  ""^  Rosie-I've  gat  to."   ' 
ilie  Irishman  m  the  young  man  was  stiU  in  the  as- 
cendant as  he  wagged  his  head  sympathetically.    "Sure 
you've  got  to-if  she  wants  it." 

''Well,  she  does  want  it,  doesn't  she?    She  must  have 
told  you  so,  or  you  wouldn't  know  so  much  about  it." 

•♦-  nJ.  ^^.""f  ■"  "*^*  •*  ^"»n  seeding  to  sale,  and 
It  s  God  s  truth  I  m  handing  out  to  you-no  blu«E  at  all. 
inis  Kosie  s  another  proposition." 

Jl^'l^^A^^-  ^^^^""^  she  is,"  Claude  declared, 
bravely;     and  I've  got  to  see  her,  too." 

Jrni  looked  thoughtful.  "It  isn't  so  easy  to  see  her 
because-  Well,  now.  Ill  teU  you  strS  cCd^ 
because  it  makes  her  kind  o'  sick  to  think  of  you.  Oh 
thats  nothmg!"  he  hastened  to  add.  on  seeing  a  second 
convulsion  pass  across  Claude's  face.  "Sure  she'd  feel 
the  same  about  any  one  who'd  done  the  like  o'  that  to  her 
now  wouldn't  she?  It  isn't  you  at  all-mot  any  more  thai^ 
It  d  be  me  or  anybody  else."  ^^ 

ex'kL'^""^'^  see  her."  Claude  said,  weakly.  "I'd-I'd 

^u.^\^\y°^,"^'^'*  "^P^^  V^<^  enoagh.    That's 

where  the  trouble  about  that  'd  be.    She'd  be  dowToa 

3ao 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

the  floor  in  a  faint  before  you'd  be  able  to  «ay  knife. 
You  couldn't  get  near  her  at  aU  at  aU-not  this  Ro^ 

""'l  .J".**  ^P"*"  "'^y  the  pound  beneath  her  feet." 
Shed  get  over  that-'  Claude  began  to  plead. 

Mi.l'H  if  ./T/'  "^  '*  '^'^'^  ^  her  fint;  but  it's  my 
^fjl  Zff  ^  T  ~^*^  '^^  ■«*"  her  the  night  Se 
told  me  about  you!  It  was  like  cutting  out  her  owS  heart 
and  pickmgit  to  pieces.  She's  never  mentioned  you  before 
norsmcj^dldon'ttWnkeverwillagain.  nJmT^' 
he  contmued.  m  a  reasoning  tone,  "there's  no  two  wa^ 

r^'  U  "^^  J°">  ff  ^  «•*  °"*-^°'  *  spei  at  S 
rate.    If  you  don't,  old  man  Fay  'U  be  after  wu  with  a 

gun  and  what  Matt  Fay  '11  do^may  be  wo^  Tc^ 
handle  them  if  you'll  keep  from  hanging  yourself  out 
hke  a  red  rag  to  a  buU,  like;  but  if  yoS7on'^T«i  toe 
Lord  only  knows  what  '11  happen." 

"What 'U  happen,"   Claude  cried,  with  a  final  up- 
leapmg  of  resistance,  "  is  that  you'U  many  Rarie." 
,.J'^^^^^,^^^'^^yerae.    Don't  you  fret  about 
that     But  I  won  t  try  to  marry  her-not  if  I  see  that  she's 
got  the   east  httle  bit  of  a  wish  to  many  you,  Claude 

il^^^i^;  «'*erfr««'^^°^''^thr'^ysheis 
now  and  gets  so  as  to  be  able  to  think  of  you  ag^  and 

.T.?  y^-'T^  y°"  of  her  own  free  will-thei  I'li  put 
up  the  ba^  for  you  myself-and  that's  honest  to  God." 
♦.uv  «  i^  ,  .  °"  **  compact,  but  Claude  didn't 
take  It.    He  didn't  take  it  because  he  didn't  see  it,  and  he 

^^  TkI  ^"f  ^*  '°°''^  °^«  >t  ^d  beyond  it,  as 
tw  Tu/°^^  *,^  5:°^  ^"''•^^  himself.  It  was  not 
G^  ^^.T  ^^-  ^^.V^'^  ^°^  being  honest  to 
wf '  w  u  *■  ^*  'J'iestioned  Rosie's  state  of  mind  as  Jim 

C^ude  who  was  a  gentleman  and  a  hero  and  a  devilW 

!^w>,'*?^%'"'°u*''  ^"^^  ^^^  he  was  left  eternally 
with  the  Claude  who  remained  behind 

l,.^?*.?!**?"  resentment  for  the  neglect  of  his  proffered 

hand,  but  the  long  stare  of  those  sick,  unseeing  eyes  made 

3»i 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 


CHAPTER  XXXn 


TWENTY-POUR  hours  after  Claude  turned  to  take 
the  way  of  humiliation  down  the  hill,  undeceived 
by  Jim  Breen's  friendly  tone  and  the  hope  of  future 
possibilities  held  out  to  him,  Thor  Masterman  found 
himself  almost  within  sight  of  home.  On  arriving  in  the 
dty  late  in  the  afternoon  he  went  to  a  hotel,  where  he  took 
a  room  and  dined.  When  he  had  devised  the  means  of 
letting^  Lois  know  that  he  was  camping  outside  her  gates 
she  might  be  sufficiently  touched  to  throw  them  open. 
She  might  never  love  hin  again;  she  might  never  have 
really  loved  him  at  all;  but  he  would  content  himself 
with  a  benevolent  toleration.  Like  her,  he  was  afraid 
of  love.  The  word  meant  too  much  or  too  little,  he  was 
not  sure  which.  It  was  too  explosive.  Its  dynamic 
force  was  at  too  high  a  pressure  for  the  calm  routine  of 
married  life.  If  Lois  could  find  a  substitute  for  love,  he 
was  willing  to  accept  it,  giving  her  his  own  substitute  in 
return.  All  he  asked  was  the  privilege  of  seeing  her,  of 
being  with  her,  of  proving  his  devotion,  of  having  her 
once  more  to  share  his  life. 

It  was  not  to  force  this  issue,  but  to  play  lovingly  with 
the  hope  in  it,  that  when  dusk  had  deepened  into  evening 
he  took  the  open  electric  car  that  would  carry  him  to  the 
village.  He  had  no  intention  beyond  that  of  enjoying  the 
cool  night  air  and  loitering  for  a  few  minutes  in  sight  of 
the  house  that  sheltered  her.  She  might  be  on  the 
balcony  outside  her  room,  or  beneath  the  portico  of  the 
purden  door,  so  that  he  should  catch  the  flutter  of  her 
That  would  be  enough  for  him — ^to-night.  He 
323 


'   i 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

County  Street  was  i^  hL^^  """*• 
f^^,  night  since  he^  a  toy  ^  'l°"  ^^  '^ 
"npresaon  which  every  sL^er^ehTl^^'  '^''^y^'  ««t 
^*  and  only  one  Sits™''^J'^^«y«.  of  being  the 
lugh  and  clear  and  spanXl  J?  .f^o'^  majesticaUy 
"^  ight  of  Antares^  aC  1?'-?^P^°°  ^^^  *« 
Ataag  the  streets  and  W  ^''^^^^^X"^  .«W. 
<fsting  gigantic  tremb^ne  shart™,^.™^*'^  fa«»tly. 
etonc  lights.    The  bre^  S To,f  ,,*"  '^'^  °f  the 
the  tang  of  sea-salt  miXj^?  f  iTJ^*^*  ^""^  ««*. 
new-fflown  hay  and  STb  Sd^^*  "^^f  ''^  «=ent  o 
of  gardens.    All  door,  wir^S^^  °^  a  countryside 
so  were  aU  windows     (^\TlT}^  P"^^  along,  and 
steps  faint  figures^d^ls^^^  '"'^  P°^  and 
most  part,  but  sending  ouT^^"^'  '"J^-^oi^d  for  the 
of  sorjg     Thor  knew  wh^^rp^^  '^"^'^  «*  snatch 
were  friends;  to  some  of  th^^i! '^^  n»nyofthem 
few  with  whom  he  hadn't  «^      YJ  ^^'  there  were 
soothingtohim,ashSi^^n    '•'^^'>^-    It^ 
the  elms,  to  know  ^C^  t^^^^'^  "^^^y  shadow^ 

of  the  house  l^£  ^  ,^     '^™^*  *°  «y-  the  ma^ 
str^ge  ttog  ^^-*  l^l  ^^  ob««rity.  '^ 

He  passed  slowly  wi^h^  Vj,    '*,"'^- 
yards  of  the  drivev^y  ^"^^^f^^^.and  along  the  few 
to  place  the  quiet  b^^^thk^^*  to  time  in  order 
»g  to  the  angle  frW^S  ^..^  **  ^  *^*'  accord- 
notalarxned;  he w^TSi^^^  ^  burn.    He  was 

sy.ttey^^HZrd^f^^'s^ 

o—ta.  con^^^es  whSffit^ -^ 


THE  SIDE  np  Ttrr-    . 

lut.  OF  THE  ANGELS 
in  County  Sti«et     H  ■"■'-o 

Maggs,  who  lived' in  4*^^^.  ""^^*«  >*  »»  oW 
end  rf  the  property.  tho^.n?r°l'  T"^  »*  the  f„ 
be  doing  in  the  housT^  ti^jf  k*°  '^^^  °^^  Maggs  could 
t«ne  when  the  pat^wL^  T  "*  «>«  ^^g.^t 
holiday.  ,he  w^X^TS  "^f  Claudel^;  on  a 
pvestigating  spirit  wLfa^^^I^y  Inquisitive'^  A^ 

ZZ''  u°*  ^  P*"^  rS  ad^,  ''^  f  *  ^^  that 
halted,  he  was  su«  he  hTarf  p^^'*'^  advanced  and 
footstep,  it  was  a  sti^^thtt,"^  «  ''  '^  noTa 
had  either  aiove^  away^t^sSuS^'j^;,-^  "  «»°«thing 
He  was  still  unalarJL^    xr-  ,    ™to  hiding.  * 

village.  and^a^Si,^'^''*-^^'  we^  r^  i,  the 
^tted.  The  soSfhe'SS^-^«  they  wei^'oS! 
by  some  roving  dog  or  bva  ^*  ^^*  have  been  made 

T^^'"^^''^hThtw^*d"«S?S^'^<^-  Hadt 
^aten  in  conjunction  with  th»  r  I?^-^  ^^  noticed  it. 
<«e  who  had  been  wTdSjaShi^'''  ','  ^^^ested  some 
that  thought  was  slighuTS^  "^^  ^'^y-'  hut  even 
a  community.  He  went  on Im^*''' "* ""  weU-ordei^ 
^.  at  a  point  wher^e  ^-J  ''"  .^  ^*.*^"  ^°°t  of  the 
>n  the  upper  window,  buT^M  °°^ ''^"^  the  glow 
^8ht  over  the  inne;  Zr^  CT!u*^«h^the 
7^  .dark,  the  electrics  X,^  •  ""^'^  *he  lower  hall 
mtoior  of  the  house  ""^^^  somewhere  in  tte 

into  ttTSfibStKrtS',,*^^  ^  «nd  peering 
«des  of  the  outer  doT^^f^P  of  ^dow  TSf 
he  was  surpri^  to  find  it^^  '^  ^°*'.  tentatively, 
fthe  porch  and  listened  ^r    °° '^tering,  he  stood 
fron"  within.    Taking  ^^^*  ?°  ««"d  reached  him 
he  detached  his  latchrke^soS^*  "^^^^  *^  his  pocfcrt 
*«  lock.    The  dT  SX;;«,''"?^^"y'»««^i^' 
down  the  stairway  fi^the  ^^^'  '^""^S  a  ligS 
h^  some  one  mo^  ^v^  "*^-    He  could  niw 
^th  an  opening  ^^^^YJ^  the  topmost  fl^ 
been  those  of  dosets.TXw^l*'rL*^'  "^S''*  '^^ 
3,5   "y  *  «"shiag  sound  like 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

that  of  Refolding  or  packing  of  clothes.    He  entered  ind 
closed  the  door  with  a  distinctly  audible  bang 

Listening  apin.  he  found  that  the  sounds  ceased  sus- 
piciously Whoever  was  there  was  listening.  toTlt  ^ 
easy  by  the  light  streaming  from  above,  to  find  the  but^ 
and  turn  on  the  electricity  in  the  lower  hall,  wher«^  Ae 

S7^*T^^^"«^-    Some'one^S^out 
rfa  room  and  peered  downward.    He  himself  went  to  the 

^  fl^  '^'  ^°°^^  ."P-    '^"^  «»«  'Etcher  on  the 
third  floor  spoke  at  last  it  was  in  a  voice  he  d-'dn't  in- 
stantly recogmze.    He  would  have  taken  it  for  CiaudVs. 
only  that  It  was  so  frightened  and  shrill 
"Who's  there?" 

«,H^^7°"-u  t^'^  demanded,  in  tones  that  rolled 
and  echoed  through  the  house. 

Thwe  was  a  long,  hesitating  silence.  Straining  his  eves 
upward.  Tkor  could  dimly  mate  out  a  white  ilt^ 
a.er  the  high^t  banister.  When  the  question  c^f 
last  It  was  as  if  reluctantly  and  shrinkinelv 

"Isthatyou,  Thor?" 
iih^^  i;rtreated  from  the  stairs,  backing  away  to  the 
^r^,  of  which  the  door  was  the  nearest  o^  one. 
He  distinctly  recorded  the  words  that  passed  tbWgh  hfs 
fflmd  He  might  have  uttered  them  audibly,  so  indeUble 
was  the  mprKsion  with  which  they  cut  themselves  in. 

ijy  God!  I've  got  him." 
^J^S^*^  the  confused  suffering  of  two  months  earUer  he 
heard  himself  saying:   "I  swear  to  God  that  if  I  ever  see 
Claude  again  I'll  kill  him."  ""v  u  i  ever  see 

He  hadn't  meant  on  that  occasion  dehberately  to  regis- 
ter a  great  oath;  the  oath  had  registered  itself.  It  was 
ttiere  m  the  archives  of  his  mind,  signed  and  seal-d  and 
h^  W7  ^u  "?"^,*  °^  P"**^8  •*  ^t°  execution.  He 
^U^/^^'^^^l'^  '*  ^'^  *^«:  ^d  now  it  urged 
^llL^'"*',?"*^''-  It  w^  a  vow  to  cover  not 
^y  oneoffense,  but  many-^  the  long  years  of  name- 
less, unrecorded  imtations,  ignored  but  never  allayed 
3»6  ' 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

w'^'S^L^-*"  ''ct  by  which  this  nian  had  robbed 
him;  robbed  him  uselessly  robheH  t,;^TZ  *        robbed 

spoil,  but  to  ffing  ,t^^'       ^  ^  ''°*  *°  ^°J°y  the 
in  his'^e'  "^"te'inTf^  ^"^  ^  «^y  others 

thing  or  wei^  ^<^  S Ish  h.^'Sd'^.r'^  -f  l"^" 
to  nothing  in  the  enH     Tt  wiT^?'  '*  '"^^  "»ne 

"<£s^S;S^sil5:'!Sr^^^-"^"p^ciaude. 

threatening     That  1^^  T  "°P«"°"^:   '*  '^  even 
unable  to  ^ppiS    ^^  °^  ="°^  «*  '^t  he  was 

Claude's  steps  could  be  heard  on  the  stair.:     Ti,-, 
slow  and  cla'-kinp  h,^„^J^  ^^-    ^^^  '^ere 

house  fiirf  S^^^T^^  f^*^  ^^  "P  ^^  the 
-med  as  ^cS-d:.^e?^^f^;^r^«-  '* 

sSki^x^s^'sri?^"^- -  =^ 

thing  else-caL!^!'^7'*J^  "^^^  that  than  any- 
3J7 


I!  ?  1 

■  Y   f  I' 

/ 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

riiritifcing,  clanking  advance.  In  proportion  as  Claude . 
seemed  to  be  afraid  of  him,  he  was  the  more  aware  that  he 
was  a  man  to  be  afraid  of.  The  consciousness  caused 
him  to  get  deeper  into  the  dimly  lighted  room,  taking  his 
stand  at  the  remotest  possible  spot,  with  his  back  to  the 
empty  fireplace 

But  when  Claude  appeared  coatless  in  the  doorway,  his 
head  was  thro'ffn  up  defiantly  in  apparent  effort  to  treat 
Thor's  entrance  as  tmwarranted.  "What  the  devil  are 
you  doing  here?" 

Because  of  the  semi-obscuiity  his  face  was  white  with  a 
whiteness  that  quickened  Thor's  sympathy  into  self- 
reproach. 

"What  are  you  6taag  here?" 

"That's  my  business."  In  making  this  reply  Claude 
seemed  to  take  it  for  granted  that  they  met  on  tenns  of 
hostility,  though  he  added,  less  aggressively:  "If  you 
want  to  know,  I'm  packing  up.  Taking  the  train  for 
New  York  at  one  o'clock  to-night." 

Thor  endeavored  to  speak  with  casual  fraternal  interest. 
"What  brought  you  back?" 

Claude  took  time  to  light  a  cigarette,  saying,  as  he 
blew  out  the  match,  "You." 

"Me?  I  thought  it  might  be — might  be  some  one 
else." 

"Then  you  thought  wrong."  He  walked  to  a  metal  ash- 
tray which  helped  to  keep  the  covering  that  protected  one 
of  the  low  bookcases  in  its  place,  and  deposited  the 
burnt  match.  He  threw  off  with  seeming  carelessness  aa 
he  did  so,  "I  know  only  one  traitor,  to  make  me  keep 
returning  on  my  tracks." 

Because  the  impulse  to  violence  was  so  terrific,  Thor 
braced  himself  against  it,  standing  with  his  feet  planted 
apart  and  his  hands  clenched  behind  him  till  the  nails 
dug  into  the  flesh.  He  could  not,  however,  restrain  a 
scornful  little  grunt  which  was  meant  for  laughter. 
"You  talk  of  traitorsi  I'd  keep  quiet  about  them, 
*a8 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

a««de^a  I  were  you.    You  make  it  too  easy  for  an 

"Oh.  weU."  Claude  returned,  airily,   "I'm  used  to 

doM^that     I  made  it  iafeinaUy  easy  for  an  oS^ 

Z^  ^^-  ^"*'  ^'  »«»l^'s  always  e^Ta 
snake,  till  you  get  your  heel  on  him."  /  <«  • 

^And  snarling's  easy  to  a  puppy,  till  you've  throtUed 

J^'/t^  bluster's  easy  to  a  fool,  till  you  let  him  see  you 
hold  hun  in  contempt."  ' 

nl^J°  ^°^^  ^  .contempt,  two  can  pUy  at  that  game. 
Claude;  and  you  might  find  the  competition  dangerous  '' 
fi«™l=  ..'ST  "^*^'  **  ^^'^^  °8arette  between  his 
iKt  «wi  rZT  '"^'    '^^'^  one  thing  in  which 

plaatu^  himself  withm  a  few  paces  of  his  brother.    Hi^ 

^X^^f^:  ^^-"^'^  ^^.  held  Thor's  eyes 
as  It  had  held  Lois's  a  day  or  two  before.  He  made  an 
^ort  to  speakjauntily.  "Why,  Thor.  a  volcano  can't 
Ske  £tr  ^'^'^^'^^^  «">*«»?*  on  you.    Therel 

With  a  rapid  twist  of  the  hand  he  threw  the  Mghted 
«^tte  into  Thor's  face,  where  it  struck  with  a  UWe 
mwrting  bum  below  the  eye.    Thor  held  himself  in 

^^k,^'^?*'^«t'^  ^  ^^  t^sJ^tly  «nd  standing 
TffiJ^  •*?•  J*T^»°^«teormorebeforehewM 
sufficiently  master  of  himself  to  loosen  the  grip  with  which 
his  fingers  dug  mto  one  another,  and  put  up  his  hand  to 
brush  the  spot  of  ash  from  his  cheek.  Being  in  so  great 
^f^^ius  passions,  he  felt  the  necessity  for  spe^ 

*' What  did  you  do  that  for,  Claude?    It's  beastly  silly." 

Oh  no,  it  isn't— not  the  way  I  mean  it." 

But  why  should  you  mean  it  that  way?  What  have 
I  ever  done  to  you?" 

"Good   Lord!    what  haven't   you  done?    You've- 
you  ve  ruined  me. 

^  3*9 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

1  didn't  mean  to  interfere-" 

ev^-ne  eke's  affair  as  ^^xZ^'^oTyScr  ^  "" 
it's  be^-"      "  ^  ^  ""'^  a  nwss  of  my  own,  Claude. 

By  a  great  effort  Thor  manaeed  to  sfy«t  ».-.« 
Hoj^wnildlkeepawaywh**-^  ^- 

The  elder  brother  found  himself  unable  tTLi.^  *u 
opportunity.    "If  you  look  1^71  ^    t  ^  ^ 

l««auseyti'veacteaMkel  J?    t^  ^  "^PP*^  '^'^ 

"ni.   iu^<       Ir^    .     *  '^^^    "  s  the  usual  reason  " 

Oh.  there  scad  and  cad.    There's  a  feUoTw^^ 

330  «  " 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

•narled  up  in  the  barbed  wim  h«~....  i. 
there's  another  wtTddib^fS^^T     \"^  "*°  '*•  '^ 
The  one  can  affortlo  cS^w '^     -^  **"  *™P  ^"^  Wm. 
wlge  the  atherSrS:ld*rd^2;^r  ""  "^  ^''^ 

"Ah   dM-t^r^'  r  "*^  I «  lamed  for  life." 
b^  in,.the  le^hich^  X^^^y^nU^-/-  ,* 

-;s.^':c5°'the-4££-i-"s 

The  proof  of  what?" 
teeth."     ^^^^^^^"'^^'^rowmg  the  words  in  her 

33  X 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

Aied  the  topulw  of  the  ini«cl«  M  well  M  thmt  of  fpewh 

.?^^J"  «»«1  of  iome  nutter  of  no  toportW^ 
Who  do  you  think?"  -"j~ri«aoe. 

*;Tniere'8  oiJy  one  penon  who  coM  have  told  yoa--" 

Oh  you  «ta,t  a.  much  a.  that,  do  you?    Thi«7« 
penon  who  oould  have  told  me?" 

J;_^5^n^t^«  much  „  that-but  you  murt  have 
W.  dignity  «id  telf-rertralnt  were  not  without  an 

we  texxfter  «  conaaence  been  screamine  faraieaneimaf 
on  which  to  lay  a  portion  of  hiT^^or^  TXl 
m^  weight  had  become  intolerable^'^^T^SThS 
^eZ^^i,  «.ch. vicarious  burfens  before Z^.h 
S^Sy^*  ""'  ""^^  do  so  again.  Claude  an«eereJ. 

n,»W„?'^'*  "^derstand  her  when  she  Kiid  you  were 

S^K*^dTI^  '^  ^'^^  y°"  wouldn'tTy^ 
sett  wjat  kind  of  stuff  are  you  made  of.  Thor?  You 
g  flauntmg  your  nioney  before  a  poor  Kttle  girl  who  yZ 

to  do  God  knows  what,  you  push  her  off  on  me  and  want 
to  pay  me  for  the  job  of  relieving  you  of  your  dirty  w^ 

"Stop  I" 

The  roar  of  the  monosyllable  echoed  through  the  emotv 

W^  the  daU  of  a  toreador  in  throwing  his  cloak  into  the 

fir  4**"^  '^'^*'  "•^'^  '^^  ^*°°d  ^d  flung  it  in  tC's 
face.  The  result  was  to  check  the  latter  in  his  adv^ 
«mng  Claude  time  to  dart  nimbly  to  ^ZT^ZT^ 
room.    As  Thor  stared  about  hii.  dazed  by  hS  ««.  ^ 

iZaT^  SbSrS.  ""  "^''"'*  *^  '  '^^ 
33a 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

hood.  portheStefS^:r.vp»j-«'c£rd- 

only  make  the  mpegM^h^^^  "f  he  could  not 
h««rt  whfle  he  ST^  "^  "^  ■™' •«* -^b  him  to  the 
"Stop?"  he  toughed,  shrilly.    "Lit.  t,.ii    tmi 

"Did  y^  sto^S«  y^^'^"iS;'«-«t°«°i"8  0n. 
actions  off  onloie.  and^^Kett^    **  ''^^  ''"^y 

white  face  and  wildiS^  !?  Place  his  victim,  who,  with 

have  you  now»"  rea^h^  ^e  muttered,  "By  God,  I'U 

Kps  -^trwhi^rffn^SJiT'  ^"^!  *°  «- 
huge  figure  chained  again  nSh^^JT^  '^"^  **"» 
was  alert,  dan^p3^:fc-^'*^**°'^cation  Claude 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

n^^L^"^  ^^  *°  P**"*  Claude  found  hinwelf 

nope  of  throwing  up  the  aash   thr«,„u  -.-JT^f 
defended  the  outside     IW^   i^.u^*^  *''''""» 

Junwdf  imaU,  he  knew  ThnT^..  ifii  •  ^5''"*'™>K 
^^^         »u,  ne  jmew  Thor  was  stalking  him  by  the 

thf  tJ!!f  ''^"^^  ""•  *""*  yet  in  the  inky  blackness  of 

breath  'setmed  to  oroceeH     Tf  i^-^i^  u     .  °^  *  panting 
334 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

pictum.     ^  "''•"**"«»>  «to  one  of  the  covered 

didn't  help  toTS^cel^^  ^"^  **°  *^*  ^'t"™ 
Neverthel4sT«Srr^*  ""  "°^  displaced. 

««1  creepl^d  XdrSc^S-ro?  f'^?^"'  ''^  '^««'« 
upon  him  biif  h-ftL  ^  ^"^  *  *='"*'*  was  actuaUv 
no'^r^;^^%'^«^^^  tear  himself  free  S 

Thor  seized  himXtXt^I^w'"^''l''*^''-  ^^"^ 
A  third  time  Th^^  s?^;  «  '  "'""  ^"«>  *e  stud, 

throat,  ^y^tl^l^^'^  ^f^  '^'^«  "^^  his 
been  able  JsLp  ^av    1wglf'°^!.«J^  "e  had 
posed  himself  so  S     T?Z  ™°^  ''"^  ^'^'"'"  ^P" 
had  fdt  Thor's  hoV^th  «^Z„T  \^''^  ^^"^  he 
was  able  to  pick  udTZ^^        ^j"*  1".'  ^^-  '^^  ^^ 
mother  somettatpIa^'TSir^''  table  on  which  his 
towanl  his  pursuo-  SinTi!^^     ^•'  *°^'"«  '*  hurUing 
of  stifled  SxhttL'Jrr^    WitAaspluttJ 
throwing  it  viotoUy  Ucf^afu^  J"^°^  .^"™'t"«»' 
into  a  window  and  l,^«i  ^^  ^°"*^  ** ''  «^hed 
only  knew  wWcTof  t^-^  **  •'*"***"  °"*^'>«-    «  he 
ch^ce  oTh.'Siitt'^tr  '*  ""■  *"««  '^«''*  «-  « 

ThTlJSf  ffJS^f^?"- ';  *°°^  '^-^  ««-• 

&  his  whereaWsXwi*?IC  r  '"^''""^  "^  *° 
unexpected  hope  of  Zf     uy.        ^  ^  '"^^  ^"^^  the 

335 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGEIS 

R"^."""*  ■'»«l  to  bom  Iron,  hU  boayi    Boolv 
™^<top!h  .  botth^d.1    H.  nuMn'riSTu^ 

SiTJS'^T'S.'groiJ^'SSS 

no  WMOwit  on  miEht  have  t«n  written  Mke  a  fat*     It 
So  he  stalked  his  prey  while  the  minutes  passed-*™ 
might  have  been  in  some  subterranean  vault     Wh«nth» 

-"SSr.L'r.tSrS'rp'tS.'sS'Kj 
ir.'4S^"'.iLe'-.^'3i^^£3 

336 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

«««ddrunkenlyCrSw'  ^^^  °^ ^^^  Pictures 
?nd  glass.  C(«4i.gtaa^'"'^^^°fgadedwood 
"^.  himself  with  a  cbtk^^  IW^'n^^v  "  ^'^  *«^  ««- 
whiteness,  that  stinT^^  to  a  ,SL^,^P°°'  ^"^  ^is 
One  of  his  anns  vSal^''^^  ^hfS:-:?^"*  ^y'^<^- 
J°ni  from  it;  one  ^dVot^^^^f^^  ^  been 

*"«»•.  his  eyes  startine  frm^f,' ..^^P*  ''^  P^ed  in 
f«>ld  have  done^^i^y^^-^The  thing  Thor 

h^.,  ™  Jiearted  appeal,  saying.  "Claude,  come 

Cla^TgiSe^'JiJSSylrt^^  -^-^  <*^. 
to  reassure  him  Thor  <3r     .  ^  ?*°  ^  «»™er.    When 

al<»gthewSr;„^°LXif„^f---d.  Claude Cvl^' 
spnng  and  dodge  a^     if  L^*  P^'«=t«».  «ady  to 

after  the  attacks  of 'the  p^  few  ^nf  i^'  ^^"'"^^gly.  but 
hoUow  and  tmconvindSt  Sf  ^  ^°''* '"""''"^ 
^^y^^X^T^r^  '^^^  ^^f  away, 

brother's  sincerity  ^'^^^^  b«t  it  mjphed  a  test  of  the 

^^^^XXT^'i:^'^^'  t-nin«  the 
?«iet  light  bun^gl^  Svt^Mt^'^"  °P^-  The 
m.  the  nature  of  a  dTo^  Te  «t^,^"'*^  something 
wipe  his  brow  and^  lSs^^«  "'*°m">«  '^  »» 
his  own  panJon  for  the  m^^„f  5f  ""^"J  never  win 
an  hour.  Neither,  probaUkT^^K  ^  ^^  ""^^  »* 
*•• — '-  '  s  m«rf  -J  f ™°a°'y.  could  he  ever  win  Claude's, 


t  go  back  and  make  the 


337 


attempt. 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

w>  It  and  nothing  to  follow  aftw     v-,,^  +t,  K 

their  mutual  onskughS^^ofj""  ^^  "^"^^^  °* 

for  what  now  took  p^TsoX^av  tSftL^"^*'"" 
unable  to  re(>nr,i  i*  '^X^/*'  rapituy  that  the  mind  was 

.«ponsf  there  he  Sn't^W.l„"°*  '3^  ''^^  * 

SfltdlrlT'-n'^^t*^  K-t  oath'KL'^^ 
faioZw^.^  *^^-    ^^''^  *^  *at  instant  had  he 

whom  he  had  always  recognized  dimly  within  hims^  wa^ 
338 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

breathing  the  wa^     nS^f  „w  '^^  '"^  ^^"'^ 
because  he  <3-rCSrS"2.?tr  "^  °"* 

pu;^f4?d*thS;r^gt?}^°*  ^ "-"  ^*  *^" 

anyj,here!-give  hin  back  to  .^       °  G«!-^ you're 

work  again  He 'S  ^^fn  "^ "'  • '  '''^*  °°  ^^^b  his 
Kttle  ^pe.  I^  fl^ld  hrSw  71?°'  and  perhaps  a 
much  of  a  chaaee-aMttlfJ!^*?  ^^*-    ^*  ''^  "o* 

had  thrown  a  match     Th^T^'  ^^  ]°*°  ^'"'=b  Claude 

tmy  underTs^^^th^*^^  ^"^  *^^'  ^^^  ^be  ash- 
paralyzing  ML~^lfi^,^P'v™°*'°°  °f  tbe  ann-the 
with  STl^^'^?  ^fi*-l?"d  *en  the  blow 
striking  ll  to  ttTfl^^  TW  w^°^.°°  ^'""'^''• 
ordinate  these  mJ«JZ^'  ^^  °°  t™e  to  co- 

acconl  rhfSfed  S^  f k^^**'™  '=^^  °^  ^^^  "'^ 

ff?Ltrfit£?r^-^ 

339 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

^-  baby  «d  '^^i^Ztr^^^J^ 
iooedy  over  his  di™i^^.    u  ^™  body  hune 

laidit';«tSi'^SSo^t„«;««^  ««»  "'^  and 

nw,  for  a  Httle  air  wm  ^fflSTaT^*^  "T^  **«  P'«1»«' 
whers  the  wo«i^  Zt^^     -^^  '*  *'^K''  the  J^ot 

j^xr^asThtLtrrr'-- 

for  the  suminer^t^^i^^  "^  *^  disconnected 
to  run  to  his  oSce.  iT^j^J^^^^:  «>  ««8y  thing 
hcwse,  which  ^ni^cwr**  stiU  to  run  to  hi! 
now.  He  could  be^-jeS'^^^^.Jtj^tbin^&^ly 
was  aU  he  needed  to  be  aUv  V^  ^  °',""'*^  '''^<* 
the  boy  would  soon  beln^^eet^^n  ""^''  "^""^ 

Godt    Thank  God"    'nlJ^Jf'^^^^P^-    "Thank 

wasdeIiverance^iwrX2L"'?h'^"'"'«»^-.  ^* 
tmgeofcolorinthech^  rt^"  ^here  was  a  positive 
closed  again.  Tw2Zf:u"l?^°P«'«' wearily  and 
•ndspokeT       ^'*^"'«*^«>ld  hands  in  his  own 

*:ii"r*'*  'all  right,  old  chap.    Tust  hV  ««ii  * 
wa?p^r^fS'^'^*'^°^«'"8htfornc^e.    Theworst 

2^<a  pt^rhisTwn^n..  r**^  *beZ>^d* 

the  pale  Hns^h  a^jfllf^'  ^?  '^^  ^°^a^  and  kissed 

-Print  Claude stin«i4:L"asS"^,7^i^f  *^ 
340 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

it  might  have  been  ^  Z^^  ^'"' ''««  midnight- 
W  the  villageXk^"^^-  He  was  «»a«i  to 
1»^^  a  lifetime  since  oST  ^^^^  **«'  ««1  he  had 

fr°m  her  room  to  S^  np^  1^!^  ^^^  '^^^t  ''t^^ning 
nearer  stiU  he  caueht  fh»  f^  balcony  outside  it.  When 
She  was  ^tting^t^^^f'f^''  ^  *  white  S 
so  often  sat  ^et^^S::^.^  ^"  "''*'  '^  ""^^ '-«' 
he.  hS;^..T^r<r  d^oi:  ^"^^  ^  -^^  -^  her 

LSgf^-^^'^-S-doLlT^t 

There  was  a  hurried  "Oh  tu—  •   . 

%^  disappSn  £e  liSrCL"^ '"  ^  ^'^^ 

She  met  him  at  the  door  as  he  ^  *^f,°P«  window. 
WM  no  greeting  betw^  ^t,-."^"?  *he  steps.    There 
enough  to  speakf  ^^lau^rH^"."^  '"^  •»**^ 
^^'^''r'-    IwSrsteSr"l°^"'""^*^« 

of  the  sideboard.  ''Nt^^^Vw  ""^^  »*  '^  'h^wer 
hurt  I'll  attend  to  T^aTb^^*  "°^-  ^*  '^'^'t 
Claude.    Is  it  here.?"     °^  ^^  ^V-    I  must  get  back  to 

I  m  going  with  you  "  ^  ^^-    "Now  come. 

-^''^CrSS^^f^^^-^tion.    That  could 
--.  wbile  she  ^onoiS^^^Sf^.theempty 


hil !  I 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

Thor  was  back-wild-eyed  and  bleeding.    Wha^hS 
'^nft^^Zr^YrT  ^  "^^  «^t  'X'*  the  inner 

her  by  coming  toa  halt  instead  of  leaping  up  tteS^ 

SoS'lil?^!-.  S*TPJ"8abr«ptly!^ZtS.tt: 
^t  rfhght,  he  threw  his  hands  above  his  head  as  if  he 

been  shot,  because  there  was  no  sound.    He  hadn't^^ 
b^  woimded.  because  as  she  sped  towari  ^e  e^^ 
^  him  stoop-^pnng  away-retum-and  stoop  ^ 
She  was  about  to  call  out,  "Oh,  Thor.  what  Sh^"  ^^^ 

backf^^.S,^^t.?  •"^'   '"^'-    "^ 

mS^lJby'SlT-    «^—t-ble  or  danger  she 

He  wheded  around  again  to  that  over  which  he  had  been 

TR^^  ""^^f  '^*^**°"  °^  *h«  niovement  of^S 
f^^  ^-  ^***  *^t  !>«  seemed  to  crawl  aw^ 
to«uwl  away  tiU  he  reached  the  steps,  X^,  3„g 
^tf  ha^-way  up,  he  lay  with  his  face  hidda™! 
nn„^  Mf?  "^  something  fatal  and  final,  lea^ng 
no  more  to  be  done.  The  thought  came  toW  thaTI 
there  was  no  more  for  him  to  do,  it  was  probablethat  W 

34a 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 


^^HAPTBR  XXXin 


»rved.  No  human  b^l  „i..?^  "{.justice  had  b«n 
could  have  d  J^theSS^S,'^  "^  "P^S 
<*!  man  whose  sufferiap^SitT^""*  °'  *^'  "it"' 
able  crime  in  advance,  -n^f-  ?  ^P'***^  «ny  poe- 
Pwbable  that  at^1««,^/!2;,^^«  ^"^^  i*  ^^ 
should  have  been  iSd^^ln  ftt  ^  "^  ^"^^ti--  he 
mght  and  waiting  inTh- „  ^  village  at  ten  o'clock  at 

«^wnof then'^moXrSSS^  "'  ^^^ 
rehef  not  only  in  theh^me^ T^^T^*"*?***  with 

but  by  the  outside  pml  ^^^°^*^!«^ty  t<»^ 

more  nearly  of  the'nkt^  rf  ^T^  S,«  *5^  ''•«°'«ti«' 

tunate  young  man's  fan%.  ^^  *  W  *»»«  to  the  unfor- 

I^hl,^  W' r^c,^'' r^^  *^«  »- While 
'«?«.  as  to  be  at^«  ^SS  h^  f^L ""bstitute  fe 
ongmal  For  she  was  ^7^*?!^* '^^  «>f  the  divine 
fy  erf  every  week  ^  S^  ^*««?«1  to  her.  evenr 
&^t  dreadful  necessitir^XS^^l«^*7  day.  "^ 
July  having  been  attend«1^  tftat  mght  of  the  pth  of 
the  fether  ^,  -^^  «>^dS  S^*  ^^  «*  ««  ^ 
them,  if  3S'fc.^^y-^tI'«8«ingtodoabout 

««  *t^^''CSiSr^«-«  ■*«  -id  that.  «.d 
waslyinginoneoftht^p^S-tLt^?:!-.^^? 


344 


>  prepared 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

hunting  for  t«a««f  ♦S.     •    ^*  ^^  ^°"«>  "U  night 

not  in  view  from^^w^''^  *"■*  *^^8««»'b  were 

wife  we«  in  the  hoSL.T^euTS^,  ^'^.  ^"^  '^ 
stone,  getting  it  T^dvt^,I^J^  Dearlove  and  Bright- 
seemly'ff  S,e  a  'J^.^^t'on. '^ce  U  was  but 

should  be  decentlylodgS  '"''*  ''^  '^ 

pointed  not  to  b;  ^t  ^S^*^  obscmdy  disap- 
would  have  appeased  in  TZJ^.i,  ^^^^  ^^^"^ 
accusation     Tah^l^J  "f™^  *•»  cJamor  of  self- 

wotd  in  to  acc^t^^at";;*^  "T^***  "°<^  '^^'^  »*  his 
sdf  and  Cla^S  ^e^  i^^tt*^*!^*"*"  ^^ 
W^  dismissed  to  h^h<^er'fo^d^?ffi  LT ""• 

|nm:ediate  s.mtSS.^::,TS  T^^'*-^  *° 
had  whisked  the  cov«<n  J^Lf^l.  ,  ^°"  assistants 
stored  son^^  Z^'^JTmT  ^"^  '^'^  ^ 
having  been  sufficiently  noted  «n^^i  ^.^f  "'^'^H'. 
set  in  what  was  aoS^^^  J^  ^  descnbed.  had  been 
taken  torn  ^,^"^^1^^:*^  broken  picture 
^^^^^^^  nau  ana  tae  broken  window  hidden  by  a 

She  felt  it  im^fiJ^t  u  '  /""**  ^^^  «»me  in." 
toU^Sl^e*^/^  ^d  ovea«ne  on  the 
must  oonnterart  remonJ^^  ^^^  association.    He 

haunted.  Sne^°^t  im'Xrf""* '^."^  *« 
strained  demeanoTrf  <^e  wh^'h   ^'^'  '""»  ""«  '«- 

^-mstancesT^  wh.^  sT'L^ofSen^ltr  **" 
P^^  witi,  dark  rings  under  ^T^'^^^^  ~^ 

34S 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

The  strength  she  insoii«d«^- «_^  ^PmenU  graver  stflL 

\r t^r "^^"^"^  ^"^ "  *' ^ - 

plater.  |«i;^c;i1at:^';^^  '°^~^  -t""**!  with 

shoulders.  "b«tV«,^L  toS^      «»  the  young  nm-s 
•'l3iT  '^  "^-  '«  »  ^««^tlaa  than  in  h«Tor. 

n^take  and  ^^U  to  l!^  '^u""  ««««»««/ 
much  higher  udI  dJ^*  „  **°°?  °n  them  and  be  that 
what  ZleS^iS  *  ^-^*  your  sin  has  been  or 
utilize  them  i^^'sJZl^^^VT'  ^"^"^ 

s^sSSg't?.-'  '-^-Sin^r^i; 

ben^^'ct^-^S^^^t^Jrast^rhiT'^^!'*  f'  the 
-cy  that  he  muttered.  "^  dl^Tl^^  ^.^gj^^l 

J^twhatGodC^^-Sj^tSLt-tSl^a 

in  his  face  than  e^Jt^'£;:^.'»°«»°f  Don  Quixote 
n>om,  threv,  over  h^sh^d«^'S?^^  ""^-^^  *^  *« 


"Ah. 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

5^.!T*.,**J"P'"***-    "•  growed  impatiently, 
don't  talk  about  angeU  I"  i»"«"uy. 

Uncto  Sfan  continued  Wi  pacta*.    "ButlwiU     Now'. 

^JThor  groaned  again.    "What  good  does  that  do  me 
"This  good  that  when  you've  been  witi,  them  tiiey'U  be 

S^InwJJlir'l'^P"!^^'*^"'  Lifedoem-tfo^ 
the  chjldren  who've  been  trying  to  serve  it,  not  even^Z™ 
tijey  lo«,  control  of  themselves  for  a  few  mtauteslTd  do^ 
do  what  tiiey're  Sony  for  afterward"  """^■"<*«»°— 
Thorwritiied.    "I  lolled  Oaude." 

"It-?\^  T  ^^'*'  "^^  «^'"  Lois  said,  quietly. 
J^JT^uK  you  to  keep  saying  so.  We  ^J^ 
perfectiy  weU  what  has  happened,  can't  we.  UndTsi^ 

^1  S5y!!" '^'' °"'' "  ^  *^' -- "-'^S  - 
"  But  if  it  hadn't  been  for  me—" 
"As  far  as  that  go«  I  might  as  well  say,  If  it  hadn't 

^i?5  ^  T  !..  ^'^  ^  ^  ^'>  <=«»«  to  «« twoTy. 
ago  ani  how  I  discouraged  him.  We're  all  iavolved- 
you  no  more  than  the  rest  of  us."  ^voivea 

SiI"dSaL^^slwirr  *^  t^«  ««t  <rf  us."  Unde 
«Z»1r^  t.  \.  .""  *^  ""^  «*«»  ''hy  the  good 

m<!l«  .T^^l^T"""  *«P«ience  to  aU  who've  ever 

Sc?  i^'^^**'^*':"  He  turned  more  directly 
to  Thor.  -There  s  a  verse  m  one  of  those  old  songs  I'm 
fond  of  quoting  at  you-l  U  never  trouble  you  with 

*wf^  ^.'"^  nephew's  part,  "if  you'U  only  listen  to 

^^  ^f\^^^^^  "^^  P*^*'  "^-^  "^^  tbis  way:   'Tto 

angd  of  the  Lord  encampeth  round  about  than  that 

fear  Hmi,  and  ddivereth  them.'    They're  camping  roTd 

347 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 


u  I'y»  •Iwsyt  tdd  yoa  they 


•bout  you  now,  Thor, 
would." 

Thor  raited  U*  he«l  jutt  enough  to  wy  tavudy  ov«r 
hU  ihoulder,  "But  when  I  never  Imt  feued  ItoTfai  the 
way  you  mean— and  don't." 

"Oh,  but  you  have-aad  do.    There'g  two  types  for 

S*L****  Si '^^^  '**''  *«teh«>d  in  graphic  style  by  the 
Master.  There's  the  two  sons  sent  to  work  in  the  vine- 
yard, of  whom  one  said  to  his  father,  '  I  go,  sir,'  and  went 
not.  The  other  said,  'I  wiU  not,'  but  went.  'Whether 
of  thmi  twain,'  the  Master  asks,  'did  the  wiU  of  his 
lather?     I  leave  it  to  yourself,  Thor." 

Unable  to  escape  from  this  ingem'ous  pardon  that 
caught  and  blessed  him  whether  he  would  or  no,  Thor 
remamed  silent,  while  the  uncle  addressed  himself  to  the 
mece.  "I'll  be  off  now,  Lois,  but  I'U  come  back  before 
long  and  bnng  Amy.  We'll  stay  here.  The  house  11  need 
to  have  people  in  it,  to  make  it  look  as  if  it  was  lived  in 
tiUArchie  and  Ena  can  be  got  at  and  brought  home." 

Thor  turned  and  looked  from  the  one  to  the  other  dis- 
teeesfuUy.  "Poor  father  and  motherl  What  about 
them?" 

It  was  then  that  Lois  showed  that  the  matter  bad  al- 
ready received  her  attention.  "Thor,  dear,  I  know 
exactly  what  I'm  going  to  do,  if  you'll  let  me." 

She  had  been  so  efficient  throughout  the  night  that  both 
men  hstoied  expectanUy  whUe  she  sketched  her  plan, 
aie  wouM  cable  the  facts  as  sucdncUy  as  she  could  put 
them  to  her  own  father  and  mother,  who  were  in  their 
ptht  frou  pas  elur  oa  the  north  coast  of  France.  They 
would  then  cross  to  England  and  break  the  news  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Masterman.  The  very  fact  of  the  breach 
between  her  parents  on  the  one  side  and  the  bereaved 
couple  on  the  other  was  an  additional  reason  for  charging 
Uie  former  with  the  errand  of  mercy.  Where  so  much 
had  been  taken  it  was  the  more  necessary  to  raUy  what 


remained. 


348 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

"SS^""  ""'"  ''^  ""^  •*  once. 

«i«cr  pmne.      YouTl  come  up  to  the  houte  and  have 
brer,     ..„  ^.t  you.  Thor?    It  wiU  be  ««d7.K 

I*      «HH        AL. «        .. 


Of. ..-I   ;   . 
«"•-"/  ;h.il 

i.'  '  X  baih 

hdi.li  '  pii 

that  Ul'l;;M 

Th 


«r     V, 


'  -irted.    "Oh,  but  you  murt.    You 

y-v^U.     M  feel  better.  i^wh«y„J-~ 

'  '^'    '  takeonehere.  because  Mm.  Maggs 

"fii:   similir  maternal   couiuela  having   h«» 

It  fnm  the  people  m  our  own  office  here.    IsuDoomtW 

^^yttmg  will  be  in  the  paper,  by  the  aft  JnX^d^ 

KaSf^^.'^i  *^*  "^^^'y"  Seeing  the  S  to 
hM  face,  she  took  the  opportunity  to  say:  "Oh.  Cam 

iit    \^™'^f^«-'^?'*'"^-    Wem'ustn'tbe.^ 

w.^eo^J^r^\^^?i'"y*^e-  Whatever  hasto 
come  out  wJl  get  its  significance  only  from  the  w^we 
bearjt;  and  we  can  bear  it  wdl  "        '     «»"  "">  way  we 

JSi'Z\?^TTf  ^^  ^  "P  *«  '^^-  she  turned 
h!  m,^^  ^*  ■"*??;  «P««J^K  down  toward  ^m 

mySrft  will  ^  rf^'h  ^'*°^'*  "^^  *°  ^  ^<^ 
S^L^Jl       ^  *  ?°^  *°  her.  of  couree;  but  I  want 

TS.X'Z^^'^t^'^'^''-  Don't  you  S 
l^J^^       S^^^P^^^^^^'^fonnofZte 

teiepnone  to  Jmi  Breen,  askmg  him  to  bring  her  to  see  me. 
349 


(: 


m 


If 


if 


I  i 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

wen.  and  always  will  be"  ■"«  aiwajs  mve 

^McM.i^    •■If«tool«,»„,u.lt„™ 

Hewas  almost  mdignant.    "But  when  you've?" 
nighl^^r'K^^"'  ^^?  '^  you  say  yoJ,  gave  way  last 
™f5r  .  ^  5'°'"'^  "«^^^  doing  it  again     "V^ 

^Y^l.T^''^^:^'-    Isn't  that  itr^-    ^°" 
Ves,  but  if  you're  like  met" 

^eis^ouXT«.^St.-^^ 

CTrqjt  most  tembly  by  passion-but  I  hadn't  exn^ 

Witt  somethmg  big  in  the  soul—"  ^  *^ 

He  put  up  a  hand  protestingly.    "Eton'tl" 

Btan^"*.    T*:,   It  ought  to  be  said.    You  should  under- 

wi  ;.  ^^^}^y~i  see  it  quite  SyT^ 

you  re  the  big  primitive  creature  ttafs  SST^^ 

350  ' 


THE   SIDE  or  THE  ANGELS 

she  went  on,  with  a  IrinH  m       X?»  *e  what  I  mean ," 
"Thordear.  I  ^nevS^  1,^^«'  "^^^  <=«ioler^. 
n.ght^  and  I  never ''IIS  ^'^^l^.*'  ^'^°  '^  ^- 
say.  but  as  on  the  day  ia7e  W  w^'  ^^  ^^  t° 
the  word  for  another-"  I  tr^*^.""^' *«  suppressed 
r«  going  to  make  ^ZJe^Z     ^"^  ^^  ^  ""ich. 
toward  Claude  is  wSf^roftTlV""  "^^  y°"  f*"* 
ghmpses.    God  knowTr  a     •.  ^^  ^^*  myself  in— b 
Ishouldn't^it^t^J.f;^-y  that  to  --Kga  hi^ 
wouldn't  have  doneli,  a^rmc^*^ '^^  °"*  ««t  you 
cametotheact-thanI^w^f'°^^^,^-«°t  when  it 
He  hung  his  headrnt,^^      Y^°^^  5^-  °ow?" 

.   ':Whatw7ve^tS^T«,«r^'°?^'"^°" 
jsn't  it?   and  that's  whif  tL        ^'^  ^«^  human. 

Dr.  Hilarj^^hen  ,hr^L?X?''^T^°'^^  Sin  and 
'"th  a  great  moral  ^  ^J^*  y°"^  ^^  to  face 
used  what-^hat?hZen^^thTnT^  *^*  ""^^  y°"Ve 
as  you  can  use  it-as  i^!!^*'^.  ^^  ""^  few  hours- 
^  a  far  st«>ngi^^^  "^^^  <l«-youTl 
wa«  a  strong  nan  already^  ^  before-aad  you 

that  ?,;i£S;ri^C^r  -^  ^  *^  ^ect 
r-d'S4?^":L^::Jt^ .«-  thing  as  it  cor.es 

somethmg  that  holdsTup  L^"!;*  '"'''*  our  feet  as 
^""•ething that on^tZl^^t^lZ T  ^'  «« 
It  may  be  like  climbing  a  cXJ^S^.^^^^'^^eway? 
shaU  be  thet»-up  in^ifd^T^'  *^*  '^  *he  same  we 
'^th  a  snuIeT^t  tS^,°JJ°'"r««J."  «*«  added. 
?°  her  lips.  "and^W  '^^^r'^'^  "^^^er  than 
«  ever  on  a  Calva^/aloo^^       "^  '^'^'  «»at  no  one 

Wath  these  words  she  tunjed  the  handle  of  the  door. 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

feading  Wm  into  a  room  from  which  the  morniiur  lieht 
JW8  oofy  pwtiaUy  excluded,  and  about  which  vmw  ^d 
Dowls  of  roses  had  ah«ady  been  set. 

Oaude  was  lying  naturaUy,  wearing  a  suit  of  his  own 
pajamas,  white  with  a  Kttle  pink  stripe,  his  face  turned 
•hghUy  and,  as  rt  were,  expectantly  toward  the  two  who 
apprawhed.    Havmg  entered  the  room  first.  Lois  kept  to 
thebac^xwmd,  leaving  Thor  to  go  to  the  bedside  alone. 
^  The  difference  between  the  dead  Claude  and  the  sleep- 
mg  one  was  m  the  expression.    In  the  sleeping  Claude  the 
features  were  always  as  if  chiseled  in  marble,  and   like 
marble  cold.    The  dead  Claude's  face,  on  the  contrary 
ladwted  that  which  might  have  passed  for  warmth  and 
Me.    The  look  was  one  he  would  have  worn  if  mystified 
and  pleased  by  something  he  was  trying  to  understand, 
to  any  other  case  Thor  would  have  explained  away  this 
^enomraon  on  grounds  purely  physiological;  but  since 
It  was  Claude  he  found  himself  swept  by  an  invadine 
wtmder.    He  knew  what  people  more  credulous  than  him- 
self would  say.    They  would  say  that  on  the  instant  of 
the  great  change  toward  which  he  had  been  so  suddenly 
mp^ed  even  poor  Claude,  with  his  narrow  earthly  vision 
had  been  dow-ered  with  an  increase  of  perception  that 
,  ^f?^«J^and  perhaps  rejoiced  him.    Thor  couldn't  say 
,  this  himself;  but  he  could  wonder.    Was  it  possible  that 
Uaude,  with  this  pleasing,  puzzled  dawn  upon  his  face 
could  have  entered  into  phases  of  life  more  vivid  than  any 
v^-    ,..'^^*  behind?    Thor  found  the  question  surging 
withm  his  soul;  but  before  he  could  silence  it  with  any  of 
^  customary  answers  he  heard  the  counsel  of  wise  old 
««vieu  of  the  Institut  Pasteur:  "Ne  meg  jamais  run." 

But  hi.s  need  was  emotional  and  not  philosophical. 
Stooping,  he  kissed  once  more  the  Hps  on  which  there  was 
this  qmver  of  a  new  life  that  almost  made  them  move,  and 
sank  on  his  knees  beside  the  bed.  Lois,  who  knew  that 
beyond  any  subsequent  moment  this  would  be  the  one  of 
last  fareweU.  sUpped  sofUy  from  the  room  and  closed  the 
3S» 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 
door  behind  her.    She  n^^u^^ 
apart  from  her  ttoid  tLTr^-"!u*''  ^^  ">  that 
greeting  between  h^^t^'^i'f  ^^ff  had  been  no 
to  her  as  she  sat  on  the  ffil  fa  l^Tt,'^'*  ^  '^ 

^g  up  jin^^diSdin°:\'"  \^«°°«  °f 

I'^ce.    Since  the^^sSvf^T^^  ''f  «Wegram  to 
take  her  to  her^^*^  ^^  *^°'«?  the  former  would 
°f   changing  her^°^^«  ^''^  ^"^"  *^«  «=''^<=« 
of  the  telegraphKj^fa^rin,^     "i^"^  P^'^^city 
al^*  to  exphj  the  ^^^IT.,  ^^^  '^^  °^ 
by  this  hour  would  bSS^.*?.  ^?  «^ts.  who 
be  alanned  on  finding  tt^  wTl^l*^  ^'^  «'ght 
<«pied.    The  door  to  tte   „*h^  ^  °°t  been  oc- 
'jWch  would   iuy  te  ^^^J^~  '^K  that 
WiUoughbyslC^hLw^^"^'  ^"^  *«™«d  «to 
««^;twomeni?^^^t:"--caughtbythe 

-^^the  w^ess  Of  r^h^  t.^^^'^^ 

thiSt"^:Ster'^rwt'  '^^«^=  ^*  -  -ving 
«K  to  give  thi^  w^::^  f"  '»«?  than  the  p„«„pt! 
her  door,  butit^  ^ayfarer  a  cup  of  coffee  as  he  pas«d 

effort  rf'tr^^'Se^blSS*"' """■    ^^ '^  ^ehK 

this  kindly  impui^" KS.i?w^:rL'"^^°"  '^y""'^ 

"^e  then^ve.  they  we^f^^.^s^- ^-^Jo 

hoSLt'sJ^lrf  b?th.°^';r?'I*  ^^'^'^  ««ht  or  ten 
abundantly  TlS^*'',;^^''*  of  that  little  old  man  was 
Pahner,  Harold  Or^fh  ^'  J°'™  Stanchfield,  Elias 
fanae.^'  ^mL^^'"'^'  f^  Nathan  Ridge.  ^ 

-^  by  .  dim  g^y  ^TZS^S.n,'^,^^!^ 
353 


■i^i; 


mil 


:i^i1 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

"That  you,  'Lias?" 

"My  poor  boy!    To  be  let  out  at  five  I" 
of  Ti^^  l^P**^  ^^  ^1«Wes  concerning  the  nature 

to*.tt.  t™.  at  M.ri,&M,  ™i  JO.  „,  „  ^"3 
''W«ffl.  the  trains  didn't  just  suit.    Mardifirfd'.  ti«~ 

^Str^^it''i'^»-SSii^ 

•■nS'?i,"2i:^..S*?«'"^  ""•  •!«■•  your 

,,Gu«syott  fed  pretty  bad,  don't  you?" 
Wdl,Idid.    Don't  so  much  now." 
tiot  used  to  it?" 

rti«^^?s?:rris-^^A^si.hfofS^ 

354 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

^^l^^  ^7  ^'^^  °°-    He  trudged  on  patiently 
1^^  ^  ««»  of  a  man  accustomed  all  his  life  to  ptoE 

to  Sn     Sfl^ir  *^*:l^'''  -^f^-  -^^«»netiC 
lomten.    He  listened  most  frequenUy  to  sounds  behind 

do^.  the  gallop  of  gra2ing  horses  across  the  dark  pal 
&  «  t?  the  occasional  bray  of  a  motorist's  ho™ 

^^^^T""^  ^  "J^'  °°  '^«-  though  ^ 
^renewal  of  the  eflfort  his  footsteps  lagged  more 

J^'Z  7^  ^^  ^l  ^^  ^'^  *"'  had  como  face  to  face 
with  the  long  gnrn  house  of  sorrow.  It  was  Erim  ui^ 
tenMy.  grim  in  spite  of  weU-meant  efforll^  ^ 
^  up  and  make  it  aUuring,  at  least  to  the  p^bT 
^b^'^l^T  ^  ^J^^  to  damb^^  Z 

Suv  ™t  1^'»,-°'.5™  *.^*  ^^  °f  ^^  ^^  kept 
n^ay  cut;  for  hmi  the  national  flag  floated  during  dav- 

on  f^t'^-lP^"^  forhimafountai^ffl 
on  feast-days.    Neither  fountain  nor  flag  nor  swardn™^ 

S^S:i"?  ^"^^  l"^'  ""tsider.  bu't^wSC 
the  effect  was  plamied  For  him.  too,  a  Uttle  common  ^ 
^iJ^   '^  °^  *5°  °*^^  ^^^  "^  the  roadway  and 

dm.  Ja?>er  Pay  sat  down  on  the  bench  as  he  had  ^ 
dc^.»  It  many  a  time  before,  hui^hed  ani  wl«r  ""* 

shut  uoh^h^T.V""'  T^^-  ^  """^^  Matt  S  been 
«iJ?K,  ^  ^^  ^^ther  had  q)ent  with  him  as  many 
^po^ble  of  the  minutes  aUowed  for  interco^.^'S^ 
iTri^!  Tt-°*  ««™^°°  by  sitting  and  s^ 
tVf^T^       ^  *™^  J^t  he  had  stared  in  patient  long! 

Kv^  ^T^*  ?^  *5"  '^y'^  "^^■-  but  Ls  moS 
he  only  stared.    Behind  the  staring,  thought  was  ^^ 

t^Z-  ^°ll*'"^  '*^P«=t  or  forecLt;  ^d  tT^g^w^ 

nT^t      ,  ^?  ^"  *^^  overtaxed  mind  to  deal  with 
He  could  only  „t  wearily  and  expectantly  on  the  b^ch' 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

After  the  fim  flickeTSSt  tte^  ^"^  "•  •^• 
The  lowlands  around  the  ^  JT^       °  ^^^  «*°>«  "lowly. 

«*ta««  and  priLn  Sl^^rf,^""  ^  '"^^' 
'ninutesaft«thedo<irth?S^,?i!f^-  ^«>.  «  few 
««y  door  opened  sWdteriv  «^^^  '^'^k  five,  the 
put.  the  effi^waslTSr^  *  !5!^  ^«™  "BP^ 
">«  within  human  kS  ^''P*^  "P^*  mate,^ 

-^r^^^m^,  Stj""'  "-e  one  who 
Wttd  the  soundlis  dowlut  ^  ^T  *  "^  <«•  *^°  for- 
and  lone  in  the  widTgt^tlv  W  I*  looked  timorous 
few  paces,  stopping,  sekrS^.i^^P*'  ^^^andng  a 

dosed  a  bundle  in  the  wXh?^  '"*  v  ^^  ''  <^^ 
inon  round  straw  hat  T^„  Ji^  f^^  ^*-  and  a  com- 
thatmight  givel5j*beJ4Slt^^  tf^^^rTd 
of  some  new  and  awesom«  «,i,  ^  ''^S  <*«  conditions 
it  had  suddenly  b^^  "^^^  "^  «^tence  into  wh^ 

^-^r^iSkSS^ay'^tr'^^*"^^  -^  -» 

-ai'SeU\SS^3^:r£ 
:^:fa^eJrclr^"^7^^- 

"Sei^s£S££^--^^-;s"- 

catch  themovement^dn^te^cfr*^  "^  ""^"^  ^ 
even  of  emotion.    Allhe^rf!?       *^-    "•"'as  drained 

^  the  casual  grSgc'^eS^Matt*?  T"''  ""^  ^'^ 
<^ome  to  meet  you."  '  *****'    How  are  you.? 

He  explained,  how^vM-  ♦!■«  • 

was  to  go  by  the  five-^v^^TTt?^*^  Program,  which 

tfking  the'^short  ^fST w-^^'l^*^^'  '^''^ce  by 

County  Street  th^J^^j^T'^^^^y''  Lane  and 

X  coma^mich  home  for  breakfast  by 


THE 


SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 


house  on  the  Thorirestete  "  ^*''  ,^*  ?  three-family 
yard  and  nothing  aty^f?);,.??  "P"^  P^^^"  fe 
without  a  garien  t^ Ifoid  i^'  '^J'  "*  K^^en.    A  home 

"oftree,  but  even  this  evrA^^J^  ^  ^°™®  '"t^out  a 
mild  statement  rf  tiTC^  m^  *"  sufferer  K,„ly  a 
Parently  satisfied.  mwk^Lail  f^  .  *^'  "^S"**  "^^  ap- 
unfolded  as  they  d1«wS;^J^*  ^""'"Ss  of  the  nairative 

theopp<«„^tT£Sfarh2L^**°"i^^«^««'°to^k 
»"nken  face  iLT ^ ^^^^?^^^^Ses  in  th. 
encounter.  ''"oacea  him  at  the  moment  of 

letters  he  had  receiv^  a^t  °^  t°  hin  in  the  few 
news  he  h^be^b^.^*'-  f  *  '*=****»^  "ts  of  famOy 
aUofit,nS4S^*°^t^«>^visiting<lays.  p"^ 
for  it  even  if  he  hSiSv^ l^?^^  ^^"^ '^  P^Pa^ed 
^nothing  but  wh^rtS^*  ^  "^^«''  ^'"»  •* 
^Z  and  the  poor  fWtt:^^,^"^.^*."^  *^° 
^LXZ^,------  "^?i>enS5e"itt^-.S 

the  whole  busineSlt  "^cJ^d  ^^  ''""'ve  thought 
trusties.  IntematioMls  th^ffll.  *^  ^^  togethe.--„s 
heard  of  'em,  haven  •^*"^^"^''«r-*he  I-  I.  A- 
P-^:    Been  hand^that  ^LJ^i^^  !?«^«  -  **«> 

up  to  him  was  thft^we^  a  mi^^^  7^  '^  *«™«1 
In  a  mixTor  there  wo^^ve  CL^-^  ^1°^  ^^■ 
siveness.    Here  there  wasT^Wn^  refl«^on  and  respon- 

8>=ui.    jasper  Fay,  it  seemed  to  his 
357 


I'''      'i  ' 
I'll 

I" 

''J 


|i  I 


^  THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

5^2;^  P«ed  into  wne  pitiful  «,d  p,^^  ^^  ^ 

d3^SL?Sr'irsrs,lsrtf  r  >i*  «• «« 

««<i  Rode  in  woi^c^^  ^^.  •=»»»  *^  »^  &*>>« 
Since  it  was  far  him^  »e^t .?  "^  '  "^^    ^o  be  it 

Marchfield.  and  the  awTli?^i«      "^f^  °"  **«  ''ay  to 
and  the  gentle.  sS  sSe  "T  '".*^  *«  K^a^^y  ^ 
beside  hia,.    Matt  pS'^^lT^^'^r^  ">"*«* 
hnn  the  more  free  to  g^tu^^^"^*"*-    I*  1*^ 
at  the  turnips  and  i^ts  an^''<2'^°'"  ^  !«*«««. 
dewy  glimpses  fled  b^Z^^^'^'  f^  *"*  ^ 
was  diiEcult  not  to  S^STZT?  2^  ''««^-    I* 
the  earth  greener,  ^^e^oJ^^  j^  ^^"^  "««• 
iwoductive  durini^  ^e  ,^1,  •       u^"*'  °'  «•*«»  «<« 
a'^ay."    HisS^!/^iir'".<^  he  had  been  "p^^ 
*he  world  gave^^^,^  nscogmtion  of  the  beauty  of 

buSirtS^^^'^S:^  r:^  bird  and  bee  and 
the  vilie%^^,^^l«t-een  Marchfield  S 

eyed  «gged-«,bia:  but^iSl^M  ^°^'  °°  ^lue- 
he  had  been  ch«t^  T™^^^  Ue,,i^  of  which 
tJwwgh  the  b^rfdcid'^Sw^°°  as  the  sun  breke 
«l«wing  jeweled  ««  ^  th^T^f  ""^^  the  mist  and 
in  revolution  fouThT^'^l^S't:"^'  ^^e^-^  recruit 

v^' flagging  and  stu^b1w"rrhe^<^*°.^«^-  '^'> 
bes.de  his  own  intensified  wf^**'  '*^  *^*  *«>««««1 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

•hould  have  broken  dowi  ,w' .f  ^'  ^^  °'<^  "^ 
a  kind  of  fatality  to  it  « ifC  ^  ^  '^°°'-  '^^  ""^ 
*t  our  feet.  The  »™m  ^  "^  """^  *°  ^^^'^  W«self 
been  able  to  ^g^^^Zt^'^^^'^^"^^^^ 
It  was  aU  we  SSTtoLSl^L^*  ''^  ''«'"•'• 
into  the  nearest  seat  ^     "  P°^**  **«Ps  ^d 

yo^'.StiLrcrw'^y^s^^-"^^' «- 

a  tree  that's  been  attacks  »f  L  f^^  cxanpare,  him  to 
dries  in  a  se^o^  H^'  .^t"^*"  '^^  ^^^^  and 
to  Pinety  in  the  oo,^^^*°  ^"""^  "*««»  from  sixty 
Prindpte  of  mCZ^^^rT'^'^'  as  if  the  ver? 
wasn't  woree.  I  m«m  that^^  If  ^-f  ^  ^'^  ^  '* 
though  that  is  a  nSteTlwcK  ^  V*  ""^^  ''^  ''°'«^. 
about.  ^^  *^«*  "  y«*  I  mustn't  write 

nol'S^e^S^^  «a-  "^^^  ^  «>-  wen, 
and  yet  attr^ve^M^w  *1  ^?  ^^^-  d«perate 
mce  his  si^:^4'^^^  St^'^'s^S  ""^  ""^^ 
those  extraordinary  eves  rf7h»^V  f  handsome,  with 
jade.  andT-S^^^ elS^^^^  °f  "^e  paler  kinds  of 

The  prison  shows  mSSThTc^^^:!^.^*'^- 
something  furtive  in  1*^;^  ^t*«>PP«d  hau-,  and  in 
P«>bably  paT^  h^^l  ^^"^  ^^'^-  '^°'  ^V^.  will 

stuff  out  of  whici.Xr,^r  «"d  of  him  that  he's  the 
wmcn  thsy  make  revolutionaries  and  anar- 
3S9 


$:fl 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

mort  repeUed.    He  m.t  J^     ^  moment  when  yo 

prove  their  uselessn^.  ^Ij^**"-  ^°^i^  oo 
happened  here  £^?^  Tl  "^"^gi^y  ^  * 
-here  it  i..  leavin^'criil  ^  Su  iT^^  ' 
God  knows  we  would  do  itXS  "  P'^M-'wift 

-"^^e"--.?^  tST-'  "^^  y-  could  ha 
""•o  has  iust  cLr^^^t  2*  ^^  ^^^^  P«»  ^«"' 
gentle  and  ld„d  and  toidL   -:^  ^i"'  •"*'  superb-, 
tragic  sorrow  has  ;3e„^£'  ^L^  ^'^  »"  "^  *- 
teU  you  about  him~th^tThJ^'^,?^^^'=^' 
;f  they-n,  ever  toW  at^l^^tlST  **^  *°  '^  ^^^h, 
thatifanygoodistocoffle^of^i.''^  "^^  «^«°  nov, 
Thw  more  than  any  ^    wll!!^'' "  '^  '>*'  througl 
h-t  hell  find  it.    HeTfod"tb^e'**"'''''y«y^ 
ffl«de  him  march  up  to  M^tt  Pav   **°  =*"«  ""Pulse  tha 
•houlder  and  looking  W^^*,^'^'  ^^l  his  hand  on  hii 
to-man  "ympathrwlS^  ™' '^*,?'"'  "  '^P'«.  man- 
feet  that  Thor  f4ls  Sle^iy^?^.^  'S!"    ^«  ^«^ 
«»y.  very  much  to  bS^  ^V  ^  *°  '''^'^ 
iMdness.    As  for  Matt^«tT       '°'«'^ty  now  to  his 
Md  shuffled,  and  thoSh^«i"'t„~'°^  f""*  ^*«»»««d 
"  was  without  mudTSc^^l*?"^**^  his  bravado, 
«»«ed  when,  after  Se  dd^'„  i,^  ^^  ^'^  """^  embar- 
was  able  to  ^ove  aS>  ^^1^.^?^^  ^  "^^^  and 
the  car  and  drive  tie  tCrf  ^±^  ^^  ^^"^^  "^nd 
jnf  to  them  about  cS^dJ   I^^f;  J^""  ''^'^  °°th- 
b«ng  mentioned  to  th^W-^^,,*  *T  *^''  '^ 
to  watch  the  effect,    h  ZmL^i^T  ^  "^^^^ 
°n  at  a  vivisection.     Th^fJ^.u'?^''  '^^K  to  look 
to  see  or  to  know.    M^J^  ""T  '  ''°°'*  -ant 
aS^*  "•  "*"y  imperative  i. 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

KlSST  *^  ~*«»~'  "^  *o«ld  c«Ator  «, 

Shr!SS^Sr.fSJ1,^*«  r-  -one  tut  night. 
"Thor  i.  .?S  »t  tJrSi^;^  ^  ««  ri«*t  wort. 

darling.  I  want  to  be  a  goodS.  i^^^"  °^'  "«*«• 
a  good  wife  to  papa  hV^Jt  ^J^"  »*  J^''*^*'  been 
heart  he's  beariXs  S^^'SL"''  ^^ '"  '^''  ^"^ 
•tand  me.    I  haven't  SXTT    **"-^  °°°  '  misunder- 

to  him.  ButlrS  not  n,^T'^^^8''*'n««««r 
^'-  ^--^if-i„  «.-  r°^  "^^  «>  him.    There's  the  truth. 


saving"*:  .*  «  nS:^  S^mrth'^^J    ^"^  "^ 
««PPose   o.    I  know  yo^T^,?  v'  *°!!f''  y°"  '"^Khtn't 


MfCtOCOPr  (ISOIUTION   TEST  CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


^  APPLIED  INA^GE    In 

^STm  '6^3  East   Main   Street 

~^S  "ocheater.  Ne*  York         14609       USA 

'.^  (716)    *83  -  0300  -  Phone 

^^  C?16)  288-  5989  -Fax 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

know  how  to  comfort  hL-firnJ"'"^  ^^"^^  ^  don 
light  that  leads  me  oaTs^Ht  '"^"'^  ^'^^  e'''"'^<^^  ^ 
than  nothing;  lIXS  ttrrc^'^-  '*'^  '^"^ 
by  it  when  I  might  exnefTtV.  kL  ..  ,  ?  ^"P^  ^^  ^a' 
oh.  mother  dear.  itVSve  '■     """'^  b«wiidered-bui 

sure  of  her^f.     Since  Se  had  '^'"  ',  '■^'  *«  ^^^  '"'^^ 
wise  to  possess  her^ul  ;„  .  .    ^^  ^'"^  ^^  ^  ^h^  ^It  it 
it  would"^  lead  her  Tor  "he  'I^!  """^  T  '°  "^^*  '^« 
substituted,  therefore  surhfn^^  *^  withdrew  she 
put  her  mo  hertetou^h  wL^w"^^*  °^  ^°^^  ^  ^°">d 
"It's  hard  to  Slow  W  tt  rt,P^?°"  °^  ^'^"<J«'=  !««■ 
she  went  on,  when  th^  Snft,''"'!,*^"^  f^l«  i«st  now,'- 
she's  so  stiin^  byS     Tt^,^l^^S^^«".''becau;e 
oppresses  us  all.  butwSis  tr^X  "^'  "^^  *^* 
them.     PorpoorHttleEt^.?;,-       \"°'^  *^We  for 
are  secondarfnow  to  whaftll^     ^  ^^^^  have  happened 
blots  ClaudZouTo^iStfnT   f  P??,'*"^-     ^'"^'"ahnost 
deal  of  pluck-of  ^Lf^  .   ^"^^'^  ^^^  has  a  great 

Phrase  CllS"^*  "Zt°  Sf^°"^  ^^  ^"^ 
come  out  at  last  tf  a  W  *ft  ^°  '°  *''^  ^''^  ^d 
least  doubt.  espJX^if  .^/Prf!;  ^  '^^^''"''  ^^e 
Breen.  to  turn  to  V™,^»r  u^  .*^^*  ^"«  ^^"0^.  J™ 
touching  to"^  Ws  tSe^^'S'L'T'  '°°'*J°"-  ^^'^ 
such  a  need  of  him  ItS^A  '  1°^  ^^^^  ^^^  ^^s 
doesn'tgivehimaTythinVbu,tr»  ^T^'^-"^  ^^"^«  *« 
ment.  He  knows  ?erfXS"?hft'"tf~"^^" 
fromhernowwiUbeoXher^^t  ''*'t*«^^  he  gets 
ful  even  for  that  ^        "^"^  ''^*'  I'"*  he's  grate- 

beiS^ir Idlrw^dl? ^r°^7  °^  ^  --  accom. 
hea.ithenewsLdt^^drS-haTS^lSLth'S 


It's 


THE    SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

they  have  just  gone  to  Hve  in  Susan  Street.  Rosie  had 
been  early  to  the  door  to  take  in  the  milk,  and  Sw^Lole 
wasgouigby.  She  flew  here  at  once.  I  kd  exported  W 
to  be  crushed-but  she  wasn't.  As  IVe  juTt  s'd  he 
seemed  to  be  looking  forward  rather  tha^  ooking  back 
She  was  looking  forward  to  what  I've  hinted  at  and  dnr^ 

lt7-  ""u  r""^  ''^  '^''  ^  ^  ffi"t-    tS  is  how  I  can 
bc^t  descnbe  her-and  yet  it  was  as  a  flint  with  a  wonderfu" 
abne  on  it   as  .f  something  had  come  to  her  in  the  ± 
of  mner  Ulummation  that  used  not  to  be  in  her  at  J 
Jnn  Breeds  fond  of  saying  that  this  is  not  °he  Rosie  of 
a  year  or  two  ago  and  it  isn't.     It's  not  even  the  Ros^ 
of  the  ep:sode  with  Claude.    Her  face  is  now  like  a  hS 
lamp  as  compared  with  the  time  when  it  was  blauk     I'm 
not  enough  m  her  corJidence  to  know  exactlv  wtt  hZ 
wrought  the  change,  so  that  I  can  Zy^^S^  t  seem 
lr„f^7  "^^  '"t^  '2'^'  ^^  ^^«^  thf  mother  a  n^w 
another  way.    They  re  strangely  alike,  those  two-each 
«>  tense,  so  strong,  so  demanding,  ea;*  broke^V^he 
^t\^\"^u^  f'^  '^^'  something  finn  and  &e°n  the 
g^  to  which  the  wheel  can  do  no  more  than  ir^part  a 
STint     ""  °^P°"=W"g-    They  seem  to  meZ'^blg 
SlZS     °"/^*f  ^ja^  life  some  of  the  old,  narX 
^l^dly  austere  New  England  qualities  that  ha;e  S 
passed  away  and  to  make  them  bloom-bloom   tha?°f 
as  the  portulacca  blooms,  in  a  parched  soHha^e  anv 
^h^  plant  would  bake,  and  yet  4h  an  ahnosrSfS^y 
viv^d  bnlhancy.    Doesn't  George  Meredith  say  in  one 
of  his  books-is  it  The  E^aist?~that  the  light  of  the  so^ 

in  them— to  bum  upward  with  a  persistent  glow  in  snite 
of  conditions  that  might  reasonably  put  it  out  "         ^ 

Ihe  old  man  is  a  mystery  to  me,"  she  wrote  later 
ant?f^5:^^  ''  "  -  ^P°-Me  to*  conneTS^i'^^Th 
shrunken  and  harmless  as  he  sat  on  the  portico  yester- 
363 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

taken  care  of.  That  sinister  element  whi^^  TV  ^  *°  ^ 

•«nl«l  1=  «  tin  then  at  J«    tSTi  „J^1.  f 

Thor  saw  Rosie,  too.    He  was  n^^.v     j 
frxan  taking  a  bath  jist  as  she  w  J1^  Sn  ^°'^-'*^ 
It  was  the  first  time  he'd  s^Ter  s^~  w^'^^"'^''- 
married.    He  was  so  U^iTT  u    ,^     "^^""^  ''^  ^^^ 

ested  in  idlis  of  t?uT-  ^    ^7  personaUy  are  not  inter- 

Rosie,Tol5^er  hand   id  r -u.  ^  5"  '^^  ^"^^'^  ^^^^ 
those  kind  e4s  of  Kn^t  '°°^8  <^°'^  ^t  her  with 

364  ^ 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

thing  on  him  in  the  way  they  woi-.  do  if  he  was  brother 
to  them  all  People  talk  about  tho  brotherhood  of  man- 
Dut  there  will  never  be  any  such  thing  as  the  brotherhood' 
of  man  tiU  more  men,  and  more  women,  too,  get  the  spirit 
inat  s  m  him. 

Claude  had  been  a  week  or  more  in  his  grave  when  the 
letters  began  to  arrive  from  Mrs.  Willoughby 

"As  to  our  sailing,"  she  wrote  from  London,  "everv- 
thmg  depaids  on  Ena.    My  cablegrams  will  have  told 
you  that  she  s  better,  but  not  exactly  hmv.    She's  better 
mentally  and  very  sweet.    7  think  it  surprising.    Now 
that  the  first  shock  is  past,  she's  calmer,  too,  and  doesn't 
say  so  often  that  she  expected  it.    Why  she  should  have 
M^scted  it  I  couldn't  make  out  till  last  night,  when  Archie 
told  me  that  there  d  been  something  between  Claude  and 
a  gu-1  named  Pay.    I  remember  those  Fays;  queer  people 
they  always  were,  and  rather  uppish.    She  was  a  big 
handsome  girl  when  I  was  a  little  one.    Eliza  Grimes  w^ 
her  name,  and  as  long  ago  as  that  she  couldn't  keep  her 
plac».    1  ranember  how  she  came  for  a  while  to  Aunt 
Rachels   school,    though   not   for  long.    Aunt   Rachel 
oouldn  t  draw  too  exclusive  a  Kne  at  first,  but  she  did 
drop  her  m  the  end.     I  should  never  have  thought  that 
Uaude  would  take  up  with  a  girl  like  that— Claude,  of  all 
people.    You  can't  run  counter  to  class  distinctions  with- 
out m^e  trouble,  I  always  say-and  you  see  how  it 
acts.    You  and  Thor  are  far  too  republican,   or  too 
demoaatic,  or  whatever  it  is,  but  I  never  thought  that  of 
poor  Claude. 

"Not  that  Archie  attributes  this  dreadful  thing  to  the 
connection  with  the  Fays.  He  won't  hear  of  any  such 
aigg^tion  Ena  seemed  to  look  on  it  at  first  as  a  retribu- 
taon,  but  Ajdue  insists  that  there  never  was  anything  to 
retribute.  There  may  be  two  opinions  about  that,  though 
mmd  you,  I  m  not  saying  so.  To  the  best  of  my  abiUty 
im  lettmg  bygones  be  bygones,  as  I  thinl;  I've  shown. 
36s 


■1 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

a  cablegram  awaitfag  ^  *  vl^°»lu  "^  ^^^  ^^^^  of 

left  home.  I  askll  W  in  tKt^''  ^T  '*  before  they 
goodness  they  sho^d  W  ^me^.  "u^  ^  '^^  °^«  °f 
n^e.  Or,  rather,  she  dfd  a^w^  ^^^  ^f  '^'^'^  answer 
answer  you'd  expect  fmm  W  T.  ^"'*  ^^^  ^^^  °i 
things,  and  she's  got  t^^w,'^^  *°  ^^^  ''°«e  new 
specially  the  dinner™  iZ%"^^  ?^  '^"^  ^^' 
their  money-^;«/ ,j,;,^XL/  Nanette's- -but  with 
Retribution  ind^T   It   ' '^  h/'T ;:'*'^  ^^  *"  dress. 

the  poor  thing  j^tolt^atthl'^"^"?'™  ^""^'^  fo^ 
woman  torn  Jay's  to  t^o^J^u    She's  already  had  a 

heartless,  doesn't  it?  but  ZnT""  ""r^fag-    Seems 
Jay's  woman  had  to  ta£l^^^^"^' *"  ™"^' ^^^^  it. 

gray  traveling-suit,  for  tJmdo^o,     ^7"*^'^  ^"»°  the 

another  week' not  ^^^"^t^Thll  '^.^f  ""  ^- 
how  far  we  are  from  sail,vi  J^  j  ^''^^  ^^  show  you 

the  bookings  t^cf  ^'  ^^  ^'  Archie  has  changrf 

aw  btS^p't^lit'fso'^^-  f  ,°^  "«'  ''^  he  f-'s 
I've  alwayf  said  thafle  woS  "^'^""^  ^^^  gentleman, 
natural  face,  but  Is  a  mLkTnd'?l?r"^  °°*  ^^  ^is 
?rer.  IfsamasktharL^  JvI^h,T'"°'t*'^^ 
Im  sure,  poor  man  thev  flr>^  f  J!  ^  *^''^"  though 
AUthesaro^suTp^tShefi^i^  ^°"^^-  ^^""^^^  it. 
to  be  held  up  herS*:  ihiS^tt  aT^I'^^^'^^^'^^ 

wm  be  mo.  teLr:a:i  h^;'   o^  the^r'^  "^^'^ 
it  was  m  a  subsm„»n+  i.**-  .,  "  the  spot. 


•    ♦ 


THE    SIDE    OF   THE    ANGELS 

;ra,ftsrrs  t'^^  ^°^"^  '-^  *°  ^^'^  '-^  ^«-. 

scramble  as  we  had  o  get  ovS^toIr  "'°°"'  ^"'^  ^^'^  » 
night  boat!  I  can't  teU  vL  IL  "/!'"=/''  t™e  for  the 
those  shocks  soTw  tilharviu  do'  1''  °' ''  ^^  °"«  °f 
least  I  didn't  feel  anytWng  ^Whr  ^^'.r^"^'"^'  ^t 
of  your  father.     He   o^f'la^^l  ^  f  f  '.^^^  the  same 

sensitive  as  he  is,  STdr^ttpsef  wj  '^"'">''  ^ 
to  get  to  Havre  in  time  ^d  h.!l  /T^- '^e  managed 
reached  London  abouT^^  ^1^^*^  ^  ^^^  "°^^"g-  We 
had  no  notion  of  ^J^McS^  ^rEnf  ""^  °' ^'^^ 
drove  to  their  bankers  and  ^fl!   u        ,^  "^^^^    S°  ^e 

they  were  in  Ix.^  on^^^  J"  J""'*^  "j.^^"  **■  ^"""^^ 
the  north.  ^  ''^i'  between  ComwaU  and 

and'L":roiSs"'^lfr^rr*'^«''"°*'^-^''°*«'. 

I  should  say  so  yLt  fllu  *^*  "^^  ''^^-  Waited 
threatening  to  go  aw^Jth^?,  T  ^^""^  ^"^  dosser. 
We  knew  they  fhS^'Sm.T^l*'^"  "^^^  ^'  ^• 
^  scores,  an^d  were'Ss^'s^  ~Xh"  t  n^f'  ^'""' 

wanted.?  I  don  Wn^i^  ^  '^"^'^  ^^  V^  weren't 
1  hope  I  nev^  s^K^a  It  w?^''  "^^  "*  ''^°^«'  ^'^ 
English  sitting-roMns  ^^th  J*  J^  ?"«  °f  those  chintzy 

do  for  you  ?'  ^  ^^  *^«^^  anything  I  caa 

36r 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

but  on  y^urs  '  I  d"in  t  come  on  my  account, 

" '  Is  h(-_ ?•  A ,!;>,•    u  ^      ;      ^'  "'  Archie,  I  sa^d  then 

moai^^^f^''^  *!:!;''^*  '"'-  '^  Wnd  of  strangling 

tnere  Jina  was  lying  in  a  Kttip  «-„r„Ki^  i.     ",  ™  -^  sot 
couch.     She  hadVn  W  n7,    L    ^'^  ^^^  '^^de  the 

cold  shoulder!^  They  did  want  to  give  us  the 

get  her  on  thTcouch     irtookthM    ^"^.^"^  ^"'^  ^"^ 

wewe.doingit-io.?ri2d^S-a^--'ij2| 

368 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

break it„pandgeth^S'pTe^\*Z''' ■'«?"-  If-ld 
was  so  much  for  him  to  Z,  t^Jif  I^  "'  *  *""«•  There 
V.  hple^^d  to  jt.^4°  t  r£'m':,r ""'  ^^^  "" 

shutSg^Lro^^S^l'S^T'^^^"-^-^^ 

what  I  had  been  aWp^^  Tu  ^^  '^l*'"8  Archie  tell  he^ 
that  I  ^hblTa  ^llt"^^,  Stl^^  -  doin, 
going  to  Garland's,  where  thev  »^,m  «  J^  ^^  ^  ^^"^ 
could  do  anything  moretahlL^^  Sad  us  in  case  we 
for  him  to  come  out  of  ^hl  l^'^  ^'^\  ^'*°"t  "^ting 
table  and  Ct  away  "       '''^'"'  ^  ''^^  ^^  ^°^  °n  thf 

returning  with  hTto  the^if  f  •''  ^  ,'"'^^*^  °°  their 
instaUed^them  iT^  ^t^of  ^'"  ^"?^  ^''^'-  ^^  ^ad 
Moreover,  he  dung  to  thlfT  ~"''P°"s  to  his  own. 
him.  It  was  thSt  iiroJ^^^"^  ^''^^  ""*  ^  '^^« 
Bessie  had  evS^ot^^'He'SaThe^  °' *''^*^"'^ 
a  man  not  only  stunned  but  f^fiff  «  "nP^esaon  of 
had  smitten  ClLdSbee^  J^!^'  ■  ^!  *^^  ^^'^  *^^ 
he  could  not  have^«^*'^*^'^"«''*°"t°f  heaven 
afmid-that  wa^  whaTTl,      ?^°''^''«'-    He  was 

oughbyreadh^a^ght  he^T.f-  '°- «"  ^'^-  "^'M" 
the  fct  trum™t-^fe  of  do^^  *•>""«  ^'^^^J  ^  hke 
house  he  had  built^th  If  I  ^\  was  as  if  he  saw  the 
tumble  do^-Sd"w  by  Z?,lf  "*'°"  ''^S^g  to 
was  holding  up  his  S   T  ^  ^^^  *°  '^'^'^h  he 

not  merely'inSorSt  i^^  iSf'  Th''^  '""^^ 
bhnd  to  the  fact  that  th.^,.  r        -""^tion.    She  was  not 

i6g 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

poor  fellow  is  say,\^^ luTJXT  ^,^*""-  "•«*  ^^^ 
in  his  so«l.  Wh«.  the  dVIv  ,-r  t^u  ^^  "'«'  "other 
back?  Is  it  "Ha^.  '  Vm^J^J?  "'*  ^^'^^  «»»• 
Wdl.  it's  like  thaT  He's^^^^'    %  ""'•'  °f  Ibsen's? 

unhand  because  we  S^eSCtth"*."'"'^"''*"'* 
that  they  can't  be  thwTt^  iZ^     **  ^''^^  **  °°t  the«^- 

tenns.  Jd  that  we"  e^i  u^^,  «  '''t"  ^  °"  ««<fiy 

The  very  fact  that  he  pals  ^1,?I?  *"^'"^  «««^"«t  hin. 

the  ghosts  will  keep  away  '°"  ^'^^'  '"'^^  hiffl  hope  that 

hei  £ghtSS^e'° 'f^  "^^'^  l';«"-"  *«infonned 
H  I  didn't  go  sheThTve  to  Z-^T  *'''"«^'  ^"^  °*d«  n,e. 
not  leava  her  tiU  she\  s^e^  t™  "'f^L  ^^  ^'^  «ther 
I  can't  make  her  <wt  Ihl  ^°"''  ^^'"^^-  ^  must  say 
does.  Now  thaT  rweek,aiToneV'",°'T*''^A"=hi« 
is  over,  she's  like  a  p^„  ^w  K  ^f  ^^  ^"^^  «hock 
so  sweet  and  gende  St?^i^,*  °^  ^.  *^^-  She's 
she's  always  ^Z^^t-tiL^     t^ ,^^'^-    ^  «»^e 

way.  Ulx.VmywoXld5wwh^r'''l*r»»''« 
or  not-whether  she  n^^  y^f  ^^^^^"^  ^he  has  a  soul 
being  bom  in  her  BuTlhe'f  n^-*'  T  ^^'"^^  ""^  « 
even  say  «signS.    TWs  „o  '•  ^'^  ^°"  "^S''* 

She'snotabith^totZ  "«T''''2'  ^'^^  thkt. 
demand,  and  just  t^W  tT  *  °''  """^S  "ttle  or  no 
She's  grieving  oti'^Sf^J/t^gth  enough  to  sail 

touching  quaHtyiritthrtvl^u^^r*  ^^  ^^  *«  the 
I  -St  say  I  d<^'t  lS^SiK:T„r'^'  °''  *^^- 

knowledged  the  ■  4t  lett^fL!?  u  ^"^^  ^iUoughby  ac- 
by  the  RuriJl  o^  is  TiJT  •  "'^i^''*^-  "^e  go 
the  hints  you're  aS  Vhm^„„  ^'"I'^V'  ^-^P'y  f"rio«s  at 

37^ 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

to  avOTge  himself,  and  must  therefore  be  bey ...  susoirim, 
.1  must  say  Archie  doesn't  strike  me  as  vimh'rtive  u^^Tu 
«  another  surprise,  if  one  could  ev«rbL  su^rilL,  •  ** 

t^r^:?eh  h  ■^*^'"'  '^•''"'-'  '^^^^::r^jy:t 
iTy^^rLVtTx^ctirs^r^-  \-r 

S^tr«   ^-    O^'f-'^-ti^terestsus becaus^U^b^ 

I  must  LvT/  °"  "V   l'^'  P"^ ""  ^l'-'  behind  me^d 
1  must  say  that  your  father  and  I  have  never  been^ 

along  perfectly  on  what  we  have,  and  we  don't  lack  f^r 

s'ST^b  °  ^'^  *^  "^^  ^^''-'^  y°-"=»*?  t£ 


CHAPTER  XXXV 


*  .! 


hm 


tenns  could  be  used  of  a  ma  ,  <^Z^^'  '"  «>  ^ <«■  «  such 
ing  ever  sat  on  him  with  J~ '  ^.^^'^  bereaved.    Noth- 
charity,  and  sorrow  wthwSclf^  '\^  the  air  of  dignity. 
T.hilo  his  stand  toward  o^„M  i    ''*"i"^  ^"^  Europ^ 
<3cyree  of  sympa°hrner^vl  t"^  ^^^  ^"^^^'  ^^ 
had  been  sympathetic:^  J-VL^^^^^,  P^^^^^y 
to  Ehza  Fay  when  her  husf     ,7^^'    ^^  '''"'^  ''e  wrote 
^ociating  himselfl^the     •/ ofT  ''"*  "^."^^  '^^-  <«'^ 
and  protesting  his  bTicf  i„  W ,1!^"  «Y^*'«^  °f  the  law 
was  conceived  in  a  s^Htltb^VT'^l'^T'^- 
of  human  nature  in  the  minds  of  »n     •'       ""^  «timate 
tents.     Whatever  the  inn^  Z!  •    ^^  "'''      '"^w  its  con- 
woman  to  whoLTjaT^dS^'r  ?'  -  -uch-tri^;, 
precous  to  her  husban^s^' i.  tTT"*  T-?!  *~ 
t^SilTn  t™- °^  ^- -viilJ^wS^^^^^ 

had'coTfSa  witV'tSaf£:of ?  ^  "V^"  ^^  ^^^ 
^ay  he's  talked,  I  y^M^l^^^l^}'     °°*  ^'«-  the 
:'Has  your  son  s^TT?"'  ^'^  ^«"  '^°»  *•  either." 

.   heo?g?tSt:rThS?rw  *^*  ^^^  '^<^'*  ^°  't. 
comfort  to  mef    T  lL      t       ^^^  he  talks.    Oh,  he's  no 

Place,  buw'didn-'t  t^ft  ^f  f'b'^'  ^^^  "^^'-f" 

x^%rL-j,£i^4^gnvrj.^^^^ 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGE.S 


"I  didn't  bring  them  up  right. 


•tateff,ent  of  the  case. 
I  was  discontontod — " 

in.'iSJiglJ"'''''  *  '^"'«'*  *^''^  ^^-■"  Loi»  broke 
Pays  aid  the  eXnV  "^a  tT<S^S^'  "*" 

_    Lois  interrupted,  hurriedly,  "We  shouMr.'t  ^^  w     ^- 
'Tel:!  "?1T."'"«  hi-  «  advtce.'^*o5d^,.V'» 

Good  wiU  was,i„  fact,  what  Reuben  Hilanr  h^^!^V 

msmm 

fr-?  i-tTfS.  tr^i"'^re°vir:fTk*;'c£r;i 

373 


•li 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

S?K2l.nSt±f  7'^°  ^'  *°  -"  them? 
I'So  that  wh  Jit  cS:,*--2«J-kr 

"Oh.  thank  God!"  E^h^  ^^'^  *°  ^^^  "s  word, 
infonnatioa  em^SLS  "^f^"'',^"  ''^^  "^s 
the  soul  of  honop^^^'  '^'^^  ^^  "as  always 

•"^companied  Mr^d£  ^^*^:i^y  ti  <*e  dock,  had 
so  that  Lois  was  able  toeS  IV^^^^  *°.  ^^'^^ '"^  house, 
parents  alone.  ^^glhlinZv'^i^'^^  thesom,wing 
letters  had  oSy%^tch«l  Sh«^^  ''"*^'  *^^*  ^'^'^  h  J 
of  the  daughti^  of  4e  house  t  ^LTTf  ^If^^^^ 
for  the  minute  the  ret„r^^  "*®  tea-table,  while 

guests.  '^*^^  ''°yage«  took  their  place  as 

his'Ss'^'oiS'^^  cZ£7Jr'^'  ^T  ^''^  t°  «*° 

new  turn  to'theltTaS^tw^f  of  heart.    ^^  *is 
seized  from  what  had  be«^  Xrif^  t  ^"^  ?"*  imperfectly 
kind  of  consolation  thaSaZt^'  ^^  f°^^  ^^  ^^  ^e 
son  in  a  war  with  wuS  d  ^^^  ^^^  ^o"  ^he  death  of  a 
deathofabCmLwh^S'C^P"*^^-    ^^^^^the 
also  death  in  Mioas  ttafm^e'^v  ^'^  ''°°*-    ^^  ^"^ 
stronger,  since  it  was^  «?d  Z'^L^'  "^  Portion  the 
science.     It  detractJno?},^^  f!l!  u-  '^^"^^  °f  his  con- 
««  Claude's  y^SS  fSllT  *"'  ^^  '^^t  ^^^  *°"ld 
Jasper  Pay  Imd^oTIvS  ^1^^'°°  "^  ^^"^  P'^of  that 
and  With  the  eUmina^^  of  ^TZ^Z  'Z^IT^^ 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

Ji^^^^^°  imprison  him,  you  see,  the  family  wiU  be 

3  r^;i^ri„_5?«  °^  ^-^  "^y^ '  «^^-^ 

cS/^''"  *  "^"^^  "y  °*  ^PP~^^-    "What?    After 
Sat  wein^"'  '''^t^^^^.y^t  i«.  have  got  hold  of  ton, 

to  find  the  way  to  iJJ'J^V'tZ'Z^TZ' 
wn  to  them,  as  a  sign  of  my  confidence  in  poor  old 
f  aLlS^  tSy^«  "  "^^  --"^  '-o^th-S 

SS.^r^P'?"^''^-    K^ehadnothing™S 

Tea  was  over  and  they  were  on  their  feet  when  she  felt 
her  own  need  demanding  consideration     It  w2  not 
375 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE  ANGELS 

without  nervousness  that  she  saiA  "  v~.  i         ^ 

•^sotr^StS^.^^^-^-SrsS^'* 

said,  pR»nptiy  ^^^^  °"  '^  account."  Mastennaa 

Th'a?is:^?«p^°°  ^  ^??r^  •»"*  <«  his  own. 
account,  but  ta 'SSty  to  feS'^^t*^  ^  was  on  your 
yoti  would  be  a  comfo^t^W'         ^'  ""^  *«°^°^8 

-Sf  L'Se^^MrCfi^s^.^^^^  -'^  -- 

the  stoniness  that  m»I3  v7     tathas  face  settled  to 

look  veo.  ^eS'  «  h^s^^lj^'^*''*  >* 
understand  it."  People  might  not 

n^aS^^'rinJel^f ^^^'f  'l'^  '*  '^•-  »«*  «»<-  that 
the  past  fer;i£."L\'^^^^^the  village  during 
Ignore  it."  In  the  hnn»  „f  ^-  '^^'^  «  a  position  to 
in  what  he  ha^  to  ^^  I^TV:^"  ^^^  ^"^  ^hor 
While  speaking  sheSthl^'  ^  ^^^^  *°  «»  *^«-- 
niay  notW  Mm   WK*^  *''****  ^^tennan.     "You 

of  fact.  he"SS  ^iTL'Sr^  ^  -  r*^ 
may  as  weU  teU  you  nownn  tif?  •  u*°  ^"^  ^h^**  I 
the  ninth  of  July-T^^'^^r^*  "^ht-the  night  of 

house  together     Th«^  waT^W  tZ*^  ^^  ^  the 

Mi^.  Mastennan  .^p^    w?^^*!rT*  *«»•" 
«ying.  merely,  "cl.tr"    '  '""'^*'  ''""thed  hard, 

thi;^  t:.*  &Z"''*  "^"'^'^ -«  «-tIy.  but-but- 
^"Not  the  blow-r  Mastennan  began,  with  honx,r  in 

brothers,  as  fi:r  as  she  to^thl,?    ^!^  t'^T^  *^ 

aU  over."  she  continued    eS^y    b^^°^H^^ 

Pa-nts  could  cedent  on^^^^  TL  1^^ 

376 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 
"Claude  wasn't  much  hurt.    You  can  s«.  thot  * ^u 

^ttfaUy.     '-When  it  isn't  in  one  way  it's  to  a^^S' 

What  have  I  done  to  deserve—?"  ««ioiner. 

"He  «>  terrible,"  Lois  admitted,  soothinriy  "but  nh 

HeiZTrri-^''',  *^'"«  ^  ^'^h  spl^did  ways- 
He  hasnt  found  hunself  yet;  but  he  will  if  you'll  givS 

priS"  -mfw^'r^^^""  came  to  Lois  as  a  new  sur- 
^?L  "^f*r^,.''^s  done '^ng  he's  sorry  for  We 
^  be  sure  of  that."  She  turned  to  her  husbaS^  '^cWe 

^<^^rw^'  T^  "°  "•^**?  '^''"'  '•^PP^'^^1  between 
rhorand  hmi,  I  forgive  rt,  if  there's  anything  to  for- 

tJIH^T  '^}'"  ^f^  *^  ''^  something  to  forrive  " 
Lo^^confe^  on  her  husband's  behalf,  "Ihethrt^;^ 

tJl'^^l  ^J^  to  come  to  me,"  Ena  ommanded  in  a 
^  rT?„°f -^^  had  never  heanl  fix»n  h^^  ' 

with;o:r;h'^eToC"''"'^^'"^'^*°'^yhe. 

sheL^^i^hS^.S^i^.tS^^Si^r  r^^Z 

mU  mean  ttat  you  and  I  are  not  tryif  g  to  judged  t;;* 
boys,  or  take  sides  between  them"-Te  gavfa  Uttk^^ 
now  when  rt's  no  u^.    They  quarrded^as  br^th^^^ 
•■TK  ^    T  ^Ti°^  ^^  °ther.  for  all  that."  ' 

hp  Ji^f     ^  ^^'"^^'"  ^«  ^d.  simply.     "I  think 
ttritnt5'"°"^^--^°--th7worldth?t- 

Mastemian  wheeled  suddenly  and  walked  away  while 
his  wife  made  signs  to  Lois  that  they  had  won 
25  377 


1! 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

C«mty  St^et:'  -'Nt:  T^^^^^^l^^./^^  along 
She  meant  that  now  hTZ,^!  Jj^^  see  if  he  wJUl" 
might  „.tun.  as  a  ^  oTSLTT.  ^  ^'*'  ««*  *« 
own  accord,  someth^^h^-K  he  came  of  his 
So  much  she  knew;  bS^J^'^f^^^  '^P  *»  greet  him. 

«nphasis,  throwing  theTLoon!^!^     "^^  repeated,  with 
ft^onhim.    It  was«i'^^'f/y°f  taking  the  C 
J^  asked  him  to  ZTe  ^'£^  ^f  *'  *^at  it  lay.    She 
^  imn  back,  and  she  was^ofn^  IT^.^'^P""^  ^ 
fk  to  be  taken  back  hl^f^.!  Prepared.    If  he  were  to 
ferent.    Since  it  w2  he  J!^*u ''?  '^^  lawfully  be  d^ 
^e  i^ad  supposed  t^tebS  5f  ,„'"'^!  ^"^'^  *«  ««^ 
suggest  another  built  on^t^JT  '*  ^^  ^^^  "ni  to 
substitute.    Great  as  h^  riS^  v    ^^  ««ld  find  as  a 
by  so  much  ...  a  glan^^^a  il^-  ^^'  "^^  "^^  "ot 
necessity.  ^^^  or  a  smile  relieve  him  from  that 

As  they  drew  near  each  othw  cfc« 
«3  one  that  would  bel^^vfif  1??^^  "^^  «^«te 
yet  for  a  long  time  to  ^e  ti^VZ  ^^  '^  "^  «fe. 
select  the  very  tr«  und^W.h^t  ^^^  ^«*  ahead  and 
«sult  of  th7fTCt^t^JZ°f^  »^-  As  a 
their  hves  would  blend  agS^-T^^  J^  .^"^  exchanged 
house  and  she  to  the  oth^^^  ^t  °^^  go  to  the  one 
apart  than  they  had^^  K^'^u^^y  ^°^  be  further 

leave  him  free.    Not  ^^J^Z  *°,?^  ''°  influence,  to 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE  ANGE 


LS 


c^e^displayed  by  Mr.  and  M«.  Mastmnan  he  b„>ke. 
"They've  arrested  Pay." 

*  ,!^*  *^^  "^*  ""^  "^  "'^^y  «f  the  nature  of  a  vow  as 
a  man  could  venture  on  without  melodramaticXr^t^ 

Zi^^T'"'  ^"^  "°"«y'  ^  his  time  wt^  to  te 

death  one  man.  and  one  man  onlv  was  to  w=,«.  "-""oe  s 

^y  would  have  lain  in  wait  for  Claude  in^^^ 
^J°^^u^  ''°"ld  have  been  more  tl2  a^^tS 
l^f^l^:^  ^  ^*^^^?^*  ^«>  ''hen  anned^S^  a 
10  Thor  It  was  so  clear  that  he  was  bevond  the^rh 
rfargtmient.    He  was  likewise  beyond  ttSTof^ 

??ang  that  anoth^  man  shoulda't  suffer  in  hisitod 
^m  the  r^on  mto  which  this  absorption  and  ™ 
crabon  earned  him  Lois  found  hereelf  Zd  her  daiST^ 
hun  thrust  out.  Whether  he  went  back  to  heTor  X  h^ 
he  did  not  was.  for  the  time  being  at  any  rate  of  ^Htt^ 
moment  m  his  eyes  that  appar^tly  no'^tt^Jt^f  S 
^  of  thar  situation  had  occu4d  to  SS  It  ^ 
TC  tSf  ^,^T/"'^«  "•"*  ^^  ^<^d  not  conidJrt 

Sat^Ll'w^"'''^^'*.^^'^^^    She  was 
™jiy  aware  that  her  uony  was  thrown  away  when  she 

^S^lx'.   ^"^  '^*  "''^  *°  «"«  matterifS^^d 

hoiii^  do^TtvT  "**^^  ask  you  to  stay  on  at  the  other 

apun.     iuey  U  keep  me  company  as  long  as  "-she  was 

379 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

«he  could  hanlly  oeSj^^^o?  SS'  !f  •'*"'  ^"^"^  ^^^^ 
K  she  was  ual^pp^^^''^*f^  ^°^g  anything  else 

sublinunal  abysses  to  rtme^S^^^""^  "^^  *°°  <1««P  i^ 

to  the  other  was  asliSrSifhS  k  "  """^  ''"^  ^^  «*« 
It  was  so  right  ttot  d^e  w«  f  ^!^  ^  ^^  »^««- 
It  was  so  rilht  alt  Se  ri^t^  "^"^  "^^  its  rightness. 
opiate.  It  ;«;  Tn£ut^tZ  Tt  °^  ^  ^^  <« 
might  have  relaxed  W  hold  J  h"^  ^^^  helplessness 
hadshenothadsudirlJri°r  ^^*  substitute  for  love 
and  then.  **  ""^^^  ""^d  to  make  use  of  it  thet^ 

She  made  use  of  it  as  nr.  ~_  • 
lavishness,  people  eke^f^^"""  ^"^^  »  «how  of 
plenty  of  pSle  dLmnL^^^  ^^^^^  °'  ^^  with 
in  their  old  ™s  ^Sd^^  *J°  ""'^^^  her  pa««ts 
««ters  and  S  t^t^t^^  *^*°'  *^«  their  jj^^ 
the  pleasure  n^^^^'J^^^T^^^^fts  she  simulated 

wtfa    While   the   dS^&4^\t '"i*°'*'""PPy 
tempered  anything  in  thnTo^       .^^   home-coming 

couldn't forbMaafo^if^w"^  ^ubemncTth^ 
she  was  as  pnS^iS  aTtf  hi  ^J*^  ^""^  ^''^  "«ht  sparlZ 
stocked  with  iT  Mc^i.^h*''^'^^^*  had  been 
for  the  p„,test.  "li^T^'  ^l^"^  ^  that  except 
going  to  do  with  Thwr^!  5Tu  ^°°^^-  ''hat  are  y^ 
the  diflference  betw^  wW  T"^^^  '^P'^  ^^'^  W 
thesterlingmeK^^^^tS""  "^"^  *«"  ^^ 

'ts^^iTo^l^Sr  ^  "r.Y^  -"-^  't  reserved 
she  had  occupied  L^'5,r°l"^htl^^fled  to  the  «om 
hehmd  her.  the  mothfU^S^f „^.^°^e  do^ 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

k  there?"  '  °°*'^«  **»*«»  y°"  and  Thor. 

^^^y^     ""^»**"— «na  I  doubt  if  there  ever  wiU  be— 

■ubstit.   9  f ™.^^  *     .,.  ^*f"  ***  "°  bitterness  in  her 
■awut-   «  fw  love,  for  the  substitute  for  love  was 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

autunia  when  his  1^  wl^^'  '^J^^'^^g  in  the 

'To  hear -em  you'd  ^tLTw^"^  f°^  ^«  ««• 
for  sm.  and  none  ev^^TuZ  ^  "i^^**""  ««pt 
Post-mortem  sUvati^  mavIS,  ,n     '''^*  "  P«t^ortS. 

..Of^urse^tJ,  a  good  nL'Cyo^.' 

one  else,  didn't  wait  for  iWet,  I^  ^??"'  '*^'>  «v«y 
toem.  He  saved  the^*^  ^>  «?^,befotB  He  sav^ 
**an  afterward."  *  ^"^  ^<J    Sin  no  more'  to 

^ce.    DifferSrLt?eLTo„^'T;j.«otyou«elf-^n 

at  least  save  one  or  two  «r  o  !i      ""''  y°n  and  I  can 
toward  it."  «•  two  or  a  dozen-«-  do  someth^ 

"You  ffl^  save  them  here." 

,  ';Anr^ou"Sol;rn!:^t4;rtr^^«*' -•*•*'" 

Iog|^  sense  of  saving  IKS^"""  ""'^  ^  «"«  «»eo- 

-  a'Sd^:r^^S°rthe'^-r-^'-«^^. 

from  having  her  bes    l^^nef 'sS  °h  "°  ^'-^  '^ 

salvation— it  all  meets  tfT^       '^^  ''^  rain-it's  aU 

the  ^e  Prindpl^f i'';^™  -^~it's  all  part  S 

And  what  is  the  endT'  ^^^  ««d." 

382 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

'"«»seW.  "  I  leave  vou  iTfi- j  ®  "^  *"<*  stretch^ 
I«a  it  by  a  wc;S  Tfo^  SteJ^jr  ^'^  "^^■ 
begins  with  an  /.  You  om't  h»™\  '*"«'«*'■  "«><■'  it 
taow  what  it  i»-wlu^Tius Whal"™"^"*  "^  '*■  «  yo« 
know."  '  J"*'  "'™t  many  people  don't 

wif  v^ow^-  'iir  w2?ii  r^ » ««'«'.  but 

Uncle  Sim?"  wonaer  if  /  kno^  ^j^^^  .^  .^^ 

a^'^yt"i^'f.'^«^^°--''ther.  "you',,  taldng 

w Jn^^n::  t°i  £;  flToJtV''.  "^^  -  »  ^•«'e 
omtive.    It  was  s~i;trZ    °^^  Jlununating  and  c4ob- 

Phrase  to  such  tenns  of^°p£  jT^.'^I'^^  f«»n  a  noble 
he^  able  to  fulfil.    It^S\^?Z;!^^  ^«  ^^'^'^ 
Md  the  present  >^demi^^e^>h^  ^"^^^  P'^'^- 
fr«ts  of  righteousness^w^^^^  "V!^^-  "^"^  ^^e 
P?«»  beyond  anything  sh^  Z^  °^  *^«»  t^a*  ""ake 
'wnter  afternoonSS^  T^^ptf  ^^"^^    ^  'he 
could  look  back  over  the  iS£  I,  '^^  ^"^^^  <*« 
and  .see  how  relativdy  ^^^ T^u' "^^^^ """"ths 
J^Iatively  easy  for  the  4^^tW   ^'l^-    ^he  said 
b«enhard.    4edistSshe™  T**  ^'^  °^««^ty 
been  haid  would  ha^  C^  '"^^''«  that  what  had 
taken  the  prindpfe  ^f '^  ^^T'''^'"^  bad  she  not 
«>«ld   be  b^ght  atout^f^  ^^  '^^"*'°«'  '^bere  it 

minute's  need  ^^rhtStacTtJfT  ^  '"^'"^  ^b 
the  next  minute's  need  l^t^M  ^^i^^^^th  she  found 

to  suffer  a  shade  :^  or  ST^'t  ^J,  ^°^"e  °°  °n« 
"»Jd  help,  she  perceived  a  iLf-^^*  '°"««''  than  she 
With  the  less^Xe^^.f-fthesti^all^nrnd 

IfssionsanddisanlantipatW^rL''^  ^^  *°  '^^ 
dse  for  her  substitute  f^  tev?'shf  ^^  "^^  "^^  """^S 
that  it  worked.  '  *®  '^^  °bhged  to  admit 

383 


THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

h^^tt  the  same  glassy  stTtKe-,  Sl'^tl^ 
w!^VJi      ^*^  *  ^^  ''*'*"  "*  ''w  a"  over  and  thcv  DushS 

^t  Cj^^e  died  'hTjrddt^/^^t.- S: 
^piSS^e?dL^^-r.f 

^t.on.shecouldnowfoUowhimburalSly    ^^w 
did  they  get  home  from  Colcord?"  ^  " 

She  asked  the  question  to  keep  him  going,  lest  he  should 
384 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

Mto-JrfieW."  *  ""^  took  the  tnun  to 

A  little  crowd  at  the  eou 
nirther,  had  called,  "Three 
other  little  crowd  had  greeted 
on  their  arrival  in  Susan  L^. 
in  the  grounds  of  ThorV  fathe 
cheers  for  Mr.  MasterBianl"  • 
j™!  responded  by  coming  out 
onef,  Idndly  speech.    He  wa.' 


*•  door,  hf  recounted 

.for  Dr.  T  x>rl"    An- 

with  asimiLj-wdcome 

A  th.  t)  hau  gathered 

uose,  shoMtJn*:,  "Three 

the  ob'ien  of  thi?  good 

the  1  xjTch  and  maidng  a 

ffchver  «  >  „  Thor  diwe 


fiirther  demonstration   ji.  k™^v  ^^  .  *•  *<>  »v°'<i 


'^ttne  from  the 

*i»nethiiig  she  had 

■fr  a  minute  she 

hope  he'll  not 

..    penalty  by  this 


- — _.»  „.     x-ur  Qes  a  JO 

nirther  demonstration,  he  »i«dced  h. 

avenue  and  turned  towar  J»ahe, 
She  seized  the  opportunity  to  ^^ 
at  tuaxt,  which  would  also  help  to  ' 
found  so  embarrassing.  "Oh  is, 
^e  to  suffer  any  more.  .le'g  p^ 
tone. 

"You  mean — " 

"I  mean  that  I  hope  heU  never  haw  fn  k= 
deinite  with  himself  Uian  heTbLTljr^w  ^^  """^ 
easily  see  how  it  is  wiS^  \^  ^^J^  1°^  "*" 
one  accusinp-  and  the  ot^AJ  ^-  r  ^^  *^°  ""»- 
have  the  dehC  b^^lJt?f^er^  '"""Z*  '^t.*« 
driven  to  the  wall.  TcS^t  bSt^'  "  *°  ^  ^^ 
He  waited  a  long  minute  before  soeakinir     "rt 

Again  he  waited.    "  He  puts  that  on  ma- 
He  puts  It  on  you  so  as  not  to  take  it  on  himself" 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELA 

■h*  «ld.  quickly  "tv^.       .  ^^l-ELS 

We  know  and  he  knows  th«ti/T.  1  ^^  *^-  Thor? 
not  to  avenge  himseHn'Slii  £T  ^'"'  '"'^  ''■  ''  "« 
But  now  that  the  law  sa^  Stav^w*^  ^^  °°«  «»»•• 
,  He  inteiTuptod.   aui^jT^.  r.  ^^  *'''" '^o 't— " 

?"l«;  «d  ridS^d  eaLr^otwlJ'  °"*  -ith 
needn't  be  afraid  on  his  m«v^   t'  '^  I^ectly.    Yo„ 

""..y^.  I  ought  to'Xu:-.- ' ""  **"'»'  -«^ 

j2SdS?lS?e^X'"„^^^^^^  <*«  ^w  ^  that 
^^b'^'^^^^^^Z^'^'ZI^'  up  at  hin. 
to  be  thflt  much  Si^^""!  ^'**-to  ^^^nd  onT^ 

front  door  wraXT^  to'r-  ^1  "°  ^"er.  for  the 
exdt^  entmnce.  wfth?^^"-^^- Willoughb?: 

Oh.  so  you're  here.  ThorrTc  •       •"?  '^'^^d  her. 
•woman  at  the  limit  of  h^  st^t  '"^J'  the  tone  of 
Jou  may  as  weU  know  it  wTf  ^-  ..  ^^'  ^'^  glad, 
topped  into  one  Ke  hS^ehS^  „  B-^thless^he 

w  bkck  and  white!  Ws  K^!  ^.  y°"  ^«  Kot  it  down 
f^f-^t's  the  shnMid^dlTe^rfr  ^*'^  ^'"^t  «  I 
been  having  the  Strang^  the  vi^''*^^  <=^<Mel  Len's 
Archie."  ^^"^^  tne  very  strangest,  talk  with 

''eJ:°'"Ko^er*diX?rbou'^.^«  ^'^^  toward 
386 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE   ANGELS 

What',  come  over  eL?^-*  IIT  ^??'  '"'^''• 
t~l  tuning  hun.a^"UnrinrSs  'b^!  "i*^  °' 
believed  it  and  I  can  harriivt^i;       •.'   °"'  ^  ""^w 

;:A.faraswhat,Sl^£'"/:^s"wri      .. 

us-aUtooTerdinn^'-    "m  r^f  ^f '  ""'^ -^"Z ''^^ 
"SS°"^  I  never  cZn^Vt^^r'"^-^'''  '^ 

haJJ^rSrh^o^trth^e^ToSSr  '^^'  ^'^  ^^ 

r^ he  2r^  aTC'^jTr £-Hr^ 

lieveit-notanymore^^ffle"  ^heyU  never  b^ 

looking  wi^^snty  b^^^"^' -thin  i^"  <l°°^ay. 
-e  spectral,  ^ur^^ a^J^^t  Sa' t^'^Jy'  '^  '^^ 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 


were  glad  of  the  family  Zn«i^'='*?u^  ^"^     They 
^  could  be  togethi^  vt*  *^5"*  ^°^  whe^ 
&«m  each  other  in  CSv^l^'^i.  J*^*  "f-ge 
clo^  to  M:..  Mast™thSy^<ifi"d.they]ce^ 
father  retained  his  twoZ^feS^'.*^  J^°'''  Thor', 
the  promised  e^laaations     Utl  fa^l*^?""^  f<* 
with  an  emotion  like  alaitn  thS  ?  *^\«'<««?  it  was 
parents  had  gone  home  Sut^I"^  ^  *^t  ^^ 
Pany.    Secretly  she  bL^  to  *  u!"*^!,*",^  her  corn- 
away  alone.    HershSrf'n^'"^*!?^^°''^«aHng 

^wifa^-\ri^~r  '"^  °« 

of  ease.    She  talkeT^t  m^f  ST  "^T-^^l^o^tioi 
many  things  to  sav   W  ?i      ?^  "'^"^  <*«fe  were  so 

She  talked K^LS^STb^*^''.'^''  °^  ^t 
her  in  the  moonhght    dt^b' ^^^  *°''««1  «bove 

was  that  sense  of  Ms^;il£r^tTS^°^*.'"^««^  " 
»°st.    It  was  a  We  ^tw  !?^^  ^""^  *«^ed  her 

'^ait^ng  for  somet^  ^^ti;^"^*  •^'^  ''*«P'  »« 
could  take  its  time.  It  ^^.tf  ^^l^-'^table  that 
for  the  streams,  of  sKfor^f"!  ''f  *«»  "^  the  ocean 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

Shl;.TvS°  T^fked  over  this  virginal  carpet  of  snoT^ 
She  taUced  with  a  kind  of  desperation-of  Thor's  fa^er 

l^^  ^""^^."^  ^°°^^-  It^wondeAU^ 
sorrow  had  done  for  Mrs.  Mastennan.    "I  ne^seTw 

?^'lSrir:,T*°",^."'^«  °f  «-t  look  ^cK 
v™?*1;^'f*°V^^^'^'^-    I  see  it  in  her.    Don't 

^d  .rf^L^thi^r^-  tottt?" 
^^r.--renX-r£-™£ 

ZS^  °^J^T^^  ^  court-whrhf  £* 
the  truth  She  seemed  to  be  answering  some  unso^ 
«?«n^t  on  his  side  as  she  continued:  '^yr  I  ^ 

or  the  voodoo-mamma's  so  amusing!-but  yc^^^ 
have  nothmg  to  do  with  that,  have  we,  Thorf  wTL 
«jlytekewhatwesee,andjudgebywha  isbS.    And^ 

i  ^^^/^  *°  *^^*  *»»«  of  their  money  back— welan'f 

mus^p^'it^  St  "5^  "^  '*  wra't.is;:!:^' 

th™,„i,*  P  •  ^*'  ^"^  °®^er,  never  let  any  other 
toxght  come  mto  our  minds.  I  know  that  papa^d 
mamma,  dear,  mnocent  things-they  are  dear  Ld  iiC 
cent,  you  know,  in  spite  of  everythLg!-!  know  th^TI 
only  be  too  glad  to  take  it  in  tSWe  way."  ^" 

Kwlf^.'  for  an  occasional  word  he  had  hardly  spoken 
W  lITr''"  h^^reached  the  confer  of  Will^S^ 

h^  ThTL^t  ^^  °^  conversation  had  distracted 
her.  The  crucial  mmute  was  at  hand.  The  dooTwS 
but  a  few  yards  a«ray.  He  would  either  go  in  witTh  J- 
or  he  would  go  back.  She  hardly  knew  wUch  id  ^ 
the  more  supportable-the  joy  or  the  dismay 
"Oh  itW  **,*^'  ^  Possibffity  of  post^ning  both. 
Oh,  Its  so  lovely!  Let  us  walk  on  a  Uttle  farthw  It 
389 


THE   SIDE   OF   THE  ANGELS 

.     yoV,'^o«^hei^^£3--^a -off  so  early  "^^ 
M  «f  it  had  been  distilted  ^^.'^^^^1~^^^  ^^e  air  is 
the  i«ad  and  looked^d  ^XT^.f  ">«  "^^^  ^ 
over  there-the  one  HkTa'^r^f     u-'  ^^*  ^-  Thor- 
told  her  it  was  Si^s  ad^^^tLT^.'"  ^diamond?"    He 
years  to  travel  to  the  e^fJ    *•'*"  ^^^*  ^^  eight 
^s  finger  the  consTJlaSoTL'^  °" -f?:  *^  ^^^h 
return  to  the  old  habits  toot  c^      f    ^«  Jniaute's 
^^  her  sense  jf  ^^4^  th^'  °£.  «>«  ^verishness 
up  the  hiU.  °  ^  *hey  continued  their  walk- 

Up  the  hill  there  were  onlv  f^  j-  . 
8^o„g the pro.J^Jt^^°^^^^°^f  in  which  to 
wmter  woods  where  maW  of  ^I^  ?""  '°*°  ^^^  <!««* 
«?th  patches  of  white  Mieht  w^r  ^^  ^^^Persed 
«"ght  there  was  not  a  m^S^-^i^^""  ^his  soundless 
stwct  rather  than  inteSThe^  fl""!:'°'''-  ^^  ^^ 
°^ar  path  running  under  p^y       "''"^  ^  ^^'  ^^ 

brought  he^  r^d  to*r?°t  certainly.  Rosie  C 
Matt  and  Jim  otTLScfS^^'^  ^°^*'  ^ 
Fay  *„<«£„.  It  „y^  te  a  teiJ  t^-^PP  '  ^-h«t  Mrs. 
^th  a  „,aa  who-rdone  a  Z^.^^^  t  "^^  ^^  ^^ 
We  must  do  what  we^  toT?^  ^^  ^^*-    P°«  soul! 

She  pmsued  theTh^  !,  .  f  ^  '?*'  ""«*"'*  we?" 
for  the  sake  of  the  ofeel'T/*"  1"*^ *  ^°«-  hut 
her.  By  speaking  b^l^^l  *°  '^^^  ^^  was  leading 
Breen.  she  came  at  £  .J^' °*  cu*  ^'^  ^''^  °f  Ji^^ 
her.  too.  at  the  risk  of  oLSn^r^'  J^^  "^^^  ^^Yot 
of  lacemting  that  whi^wL  ^  °'^M°""'^^  ^*  "^e  risk 
Her  main  pu^x^e  was  to  s^  ^J^^v'^'  ^*^,  ^"^tive. 
hm.  speak,  so  that  this  nSTsk^l/  ^"^"^  *°  ""^^ 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE   ANGELS 

luaivdy  w  of  necessity.  She  was  resolute  to  make  it  as 
litUe  to  be  sliunned  as  his  or  her  own. 

Not  that  she  was  successful,  for  the  minute  at  any  rate. 
His  responses  continued  to  be  brief,  so  brief  that  they 
were  hardly  r^ponses  at  aU.  They  were  not  grudged  or 
ungra«ous:  they  were  only  like  those  first  Httle  flashes 
of  hghtning  which  hmt  that  the  heavens  wiU  soon  be 
Skt,  .^  ^  fnghtened  boy  whistles  frem  bravado,  she 
SnSi^   ""  ""  ^'^^^^  ^*  *"^  '^'^S  of  celitial 

"Oh,  Thor,  there'U  be  so  much  now  to  do!  It's  reaUv 
only  begmmng,   isn't  it?    And  it  brings  in  so  manv 

I  hke  that     I  lj£e  gettmg  out  of  our  o.u.  little  groove- 

with  what  IS  stronger,  even  if  it's  terrific.  That's  what 
I  f^about  Matt  Fay-that  he's  terrific.  He  rep™ 
atMTific  movem^t,  doesn't  he?  and  one  we  can't  ignore. 
When  I  say  temfic  I  don't  mean  that  I'm  afraid  of  it. 

of  wL  n"^^'  *°  ""*  *°°  strengthening  to  be  afraid 
of.  With  all  you  can  say  against  it,  it  strikes  me  as  a 
tome  in  our  rather  flaccid  life,  like  iron  in  the  blood  I've 
sympathy  with  it,  too,  to  some  extent;  I've  sympathy 

^2?  '"t,  ^'^  ^°^'  ^  ^°  "^^""g  t°  t"^-  Peopte!  rm 
gl^  we  know  ten.  and  that  in  a  way  we've  a  right  to  get 
n^  to  him.  It  puts  us  in  touch  with  our  own  national 
reautaes  as  perhaps  otherwise  we  shouldn't  be.  Oh  Thor 
there  s  so  much  to  work  out!  Isn't  it  a  splendid  thing 
that  we  can  help  even  to  the  slightest  degree  in  doing  it!'' 
°t™s  there  was  no  response  whatever.  She  was  not 
Zh  '^':f  ^^^^-    ^"^"^  ^''  '^^  t^  fo""  ^tr<Se^n 

so^H  ^i  -^u"^^^ ^^^ ^"■°"°° ^"°^ ^^^ « creaking 
sound  that  roused  the  winged  and  funy  things  of  the  wood 
and  silenced  her  half-hysterical  efforts  to  fight  S 
hat  which  awaited  her  like  a  glory  or  a  doom  cSg 
^ddenly  awaxe  of  the  uselessness  of  speaJdng,  she  said  no 

391 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 

-^..^T^hi^  £t^^^^  .-ned  to  , 

white  as  this  snowTttis^^.-^"'"^^  »«  "ver 
?o  like  the  ether  b^^d^e  a^?*''  "°*^«  ^  « 
«g  was  ever  so  ^d^  ^^T^^  *"  *W»  "i^:  no 
or  so  fflysticaUy  ^^^^'"^J^  «"'s  purple  ^ 
upward  it  was  UkeZ^^Tl^^  ^  ""ey  climl 
wh«e  evil  was  not  an  eS^St*  *^'  °^**'  ^P^e 

Pt^'^^^^'^tl^t  t^^eTd^  .:"'*  ^  «>«  -- 

white  altar.    It  w^  an  ^T  v^^u  *''**  «»e  Hke  a  gre 

when  a  half-ho«^i^  Sv'Sf  "1*^^  ^  ^<^ 

othenWse  they  might  W^^te'?"««'  their  ^ 

association  of  the  oast  ^-^f^  ^'^  "•    As  it  was.  tl 

starUed  then,  i^^  ?^g*5  ^^i^*  ^^-d  th^ 

^ous  to  seeing  eacA  He  ^  oT^ff^t'  "^^^^^  cor 

as  could  not  pass  into  wc^d-T^t     ^  °^^  ^'^  tWng 

As  ttey  contfaZl  ttelT^ip^^r^^^  ^'^  ««*»< 

»«U  of  some  symbolic  ceSr^  >t  was  as  if  in  fuiffl 

^ool^nUt  o^4"rd:^£?e^^*  °"  «>«— >it 
when  Thor  spoke.  "I'm  noT  tlt^f  **  ^^  feet, 
you've  been  talking  of  r,^  „  ."^"^  ^*^*  the  thing^ 
thwi  any  mo^^  ^  ™  °°t  Pn«arily  interested  ^ 
'You  mean — ?" 

4'S^i?^e^n°^?«'-^thewayrvetri«,it. 
She  was  faintly  surprised.    "Indeed?" 

truth."  ^  ^y  ^  ^e  stumbled  out-to  a  gW 

•■  &dr.  °^S??"^  '-  --  '-t  curio^ty. 
but  w^th  hL's^.""  ivrnoTTr^T.t  "°*  '^th  othe^. 
^  right  on  his  o^uZnt-'^'A^^t  T'  '*'"  ''^ 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE   ANGELS 

she  was  too  disconcerted  to  comment  on  this,  he  con- 
tinued: "If  reaching  this  conclusion  seems  to  you  like 
discovering  the  obvious,  I  can  only  say  that  it  hasn't 
been  obvious  to  me.  It's  just  beginning  to  come  to 
me  that  I  was  so  busy  casting  out  other  people's  devils 
that  I'd  forgotten  all  about  my  own." 

"You've  been  so  generous  in  all  you've  thought  about 
other  people,  Thor— " 

He  interrupted  with  decision.  "The  most  effective 
way  m  which  to  be  generous  to  other  people  is  to  be 
strict  with  one's  self;  but  it  never  occurred  to  me  till 
lately.  I've  been  so  eager  that  my  neighbor's  garden 
should  be  trim  and  productive,  that  mine  has  been  over- 
run with  weeds." 

Against  this  self-condemnation  she  felt  it  her  duty  to 
laptest.  "But  Uncle  Sim  says  you've  always  been  on  the 
side  of  the — " 

"Yes,  I  know,"  he  broke  in,  with  what  was  nearly  a 
laugh.  "But  it's  just  where  the  dear  old  fellow  has  been 
wrong  about  me.  I've  wanted  every  one  else  to  be 
there,  on  the  side  of  the  good  things— I  admit  that— 
but  I  was  to  have  plenty  of  rope.  Now  I'm  coming  to 
understand— and  it's  taken  aU  this  trouble  to  drive  it 
home  to  my  stupidity— that  if  I  want  to  see  any  one  else 
on  the  side  of  the  angels  I  must  get  there  first.  That's 
where  the  ax  must  go  to  the  root  of  the  tree.  In  the  main 
other  people  will  take  care  of  ihemsdves  if  I  take  care  of 
myseU—tiad  I'm  going  to  try." 

She  was  hurt  on  his  behalf.  "Oh,  Thor.  please  don't 
say  such  things  when  you're  so— so  noble." 

"I'm  only  saying  them,  Lois,  to  show  you  that  I  see 
what  s  been  wrong  with  me  from  the  start.  You've  tried 
to  say  it  yourself  at  times,  only  I  couldn't  take  it  in. 
Do  you  remember  the  day  in  my  office  when  you  came 
to  tell  me  that"— he  nerved  himself  to  approach  the 
subject  with  the  simple  directness  he  knew  she  desired— 
"that  Rosie  had— ?" 

»  393 


THE   SIDE   OF  THE  ANGELS 


"Yes,  but  I  did 


n.l^"-?^*?"'^  to  come  to  his  aid. 
*»^>t  w  just  that  way." 

t^  iti"^e  tusi  "ISrirr  ^  T  '«*  back  a 
"Oh,  Thor!"  she  pl4?i^  ^""^  ^-" 
He  went  on,  steadily:  "From  tt,«  ™-  •  , . 
you  to  mairy  me  right  uo  ^J^  7? '"  ^^^  ^  «*" 
about  Claude."  h"  was  ob^,^  ?~f  ''''^*  "^PP^" 
bt^ath  before  saying  m^  -^^^  *°  ^"^  »  'ong.  ha, 
eveny  one  else  sCd  S^rfght  th^t  I  ^^T""^  ">' 
«wng  /  was-which  is  lik/hl3  ''"^°  *  *=^  ^o^ 
poisoned  well."  ***  '^'^«  °"t  water  from 

was  stSl  ti^lrS  Sdt^lfL^'^.S-  *^" 
It  unjustly  to  yourself  Thor  u  ^.'  ^^* *  P"ttin( 
they've  been  sjde^onS^    Thlt wll"".^"  ""'^t^^ 

Xr^^f  r *  °' -  have'Sn'^g^.  ^"  """  ">^ 
She  thought  he  smiled.  ^ 

wanrtL?Sitt>mwt?''^°'^'^«'-  I  only 
on  a  new  pUo  Sf  ML°ri:?  '  ^^  «*^^ 
and  not  ircm  the  outside  If  rnTfi*^  *^  ^^  ^^^e! 
world,  something  mu^  W  L  ^?-  ^^^^S  «  tWs 

I've  got  to  begfn."  Hfl^ilf r^^P??^^  ^  «^-^d 
of  the  dim,  whL  landSi^1i°?  ^'  contemplation 
you  help  me..    WiU%r ^o^^  L^  Wr  ^*  ^^^    "^^ 

somehoTnt^ tSrSf^he^^ V.°^  *«  ''- 
glance  up  at  him.    SheS"  hf-^t  "^"^  *  *  ««<*  as 
only  trembled  out  asSe^d  ^ufc^^V"'  ^"^ 
You  can,"  he  «!ai,1  c;^„i     ..1  '  ^*or  dear." 

She  barei;  hJtedli  ^^P'y-."^"- you  know." 
"You've  Ko'-  the  ^t  ^v    ^7  '^^  y°«  think  I  do?" 
that  now-l  in^    i  ther?''r  "  ^«*-     ^  ^ 
that's  worth  leaming.''  ^^^  ''  *°  everything  else 

"Oh,  Thor,  you  make  me  afraid—" 
394 


THE   SIDE  OF  THE  ANGELS 

"Through  aU  these  dreadful  months,"  he  pureued. 
tranquiUy  "you've  kept  us  straight,  and  led  us  lit.  wd 
raised  us  higher,  not  because  you're  spedally  strong,  Lois 
or  speaaUy  wise  but  becaus^because  you've  got  some 
other  quahty.  I  want  you  to  show  me  what  it  is  so^t 
I  may  have  it,  too.  If  I  c»uld  get  it-«et  just  a  UtUe  of  1t 
-^t  wodd  seem  as  If  Claude  hadn't-h-idn't  died  in 
^f^:^  .t  was  now  so  near  his  breast  that  he  was 
oWiged  to  bend  his  head  in  order  to  speak  down  to  her. 
You  wrote  me  last  year  that  you  were  looking  for  a 
substitute 'or  love.    Couldn't  you  find  it  in  that?'' 

She  was  so  close  to  him  that  her  cheek  brushed  the  fur 
coUm  of  his  coat,  yet  she  managed  to  keep  her  mind  clear 
will     "^^^  f  T°"^  so  as  to  ask  the  thing  she  most 
vitaUy  needed  to  know.     "And  if  I  did.  Thor-if  I 
co«M— what  should  you  find  it  in?" 
"In  adoration-for  one  thing,"  he  said,  simply. 
It  was  such  happiness  that  she  tore  herself  away  from 
J^n.  ffT°"^  swiftly  over  the  light  snow  to  a  higher 
point  of  the  summit,  she  stood  for  a  minute  poised  ^one 
ag^t  the  dark  sky,  crowned  to  his  eyes  with  a  diadem 
of  stars     Very  slowly  he  strode  after  her,  but  even  when 
he  reached  her  side  it  was  only  to  slip  his  hand  into  hers 
and  gaze  outward  with  her  into  the  far.  dim.  restful 
spaces.  """1 

It  was  she  who  spoke  at  last,  timidly,  and  against 
txsmg  tears.    "Shall  we  go  home,  Thor?"  ^ 

"I'm  at  borne,"  he  said,  quietly.  But  the  quietness 
gave  way  suddenly  to  fierceness,  as  Kttle  Ughtning  flashes 
jaeld  m  a  few  seconds  to  the  violent  magnificence  of 
storm  Sazmg  her  m  his  arms  with  a  dasp  that  would 
have  been  brutal  if  it  had  not  been  so  sweet,  he  whispered 
You  re  home  to  me,  Lois— you're  home  to  me." 

And  you're  the  whole  wide  worU  to  me,  Thor  dear  " 
she  answered,  drawing  his  face  downward 


THE  END 


